Again, a question from a "bmi newbie" even though not an FT newbie ... thanks for your tolerance! (I read the stickies, read the site, did a search...)

As I understand it, I become Blue Plus as soon as I get 3,000 status (aka "membership") miles. (Flew them last week; they haven't all posted.) At that point they subtract 3,000 from the status miles counter, start a status clock, and I start working on Silver. I have 12 months to earn it, or it's back to Blue.

If I earn another 16,000 status miles within those 12 months, I get Silver. They subtract those 16,000 miles from the status counter and restart the status clock. If I earn 38,000 miles in the following 12 months, I get Gold; 16,000-37,999, keep Silver another year; fewer than that, soft landing to Blue Plus.

(a) Did I get that right?

(b) Does a new requalification clock start when I hit 38,000 miles, or is my status year forever based on the date I first earned Silver?

(c) If a new clock starts when I earn Gold, I subsequently drop to Silver and then earn Gold once again by flying 38,000 miles in a status year, does that change the start date of my status year?

(d) Am I missing something elementary and fundamental here?

(I may be excessively anal about this, but I console myself that I'm not the only FTer with that sickness.)