Fortunately for me, FlyerTalk is the very first bulletin board which I ever read, and to which I ever posted. I was immediately fascinated by the concept of a worldwide internet-based community, and the intelligence, wit and caring of those other few original posters. We quickly became very real to one another on line and, after a few months, I too began to wonder how we would know if one of us died?

Since then, many of the original members have disappeared, and at least three of the very early posters, who had also become real-life friends--raeban, johna and NathanDetroit--have all passed on. Somehow, we knew.

I grieve their passing just as much as I do that of people with whom I went to high school. I even grieve the passing of BartWatson, whom I did not know in person.

If we miss a poster friend or acquaintance, we will have to ask about them, just like in real life, "What ever happened to..............?" Just like in real life, people may or may not know the answer.