[phillygolf]

Those were the days, weren't they, Patrick?



You did indeed do much of the 'heavy lifting' during that crucial period when TGM was earning its spurs in cyberspace. Including, I might add, educating me about the 'lay of the land' -- the various sites and posting personalities -- that populated this corner of the world. I had been away from golf for 20 years and knew absolutely nothing of the various golf websites, much less this funky thing called 'posting'. I, for one, am grateful for the many thankless hours you put in establishing the basecamp and keeping things humming along the way.

It's now been four years since my first posts on the old TGM site run by you and Randy. By then, Chuck had already started his own site (with Randy as Admin), and I was to learn of it a couple of weeks later. I posted on both sites until Bagger, Trig and I formed this site almost exactly one year later. By the grace of God, Bambam appeared during that first year, and the rest, as they say, is history.

It was Mike O who called out of the blue in December 2003 and told me about the TGM site. I logged on for the first time (and made my first post) on January 11, 2004. Ironically, I would later discover that this was 22 years to the day from when I stepped off the airplane in Seattle, Washington and came face to face with Homer Kelley.

In one sense, it seems all this happened only yesterday, and in another, a lifetime ago. In fact, for me, it has been a lifetime, because mine has so radically changed since then.

Who'da ever thunk it?

Yes sir...the good ole days. Funny how that happens.

And thank you for your gratitude, I too, owe you a ton of thanks and am grateful I have a home on the net to come back to even when I stray.

I hope I did not come off as - pompous - I meant not to. MBC just kicked up some memories!!! The 'heavy lifting' was a labor of love - I can still remember questioning, prying....ok, lets be honest, interrogating and not getting the wedges at all!!!

And you and I talking on the phone - the lay of the land conversation. And your first 'trip' back to TGM, and me hanging with Henning and me trying not to give up the secret that you were making an appearance (I must confess, I did say someone was coming in - just didnt say who).

The date - 22 years to the day - is unbelievable. I mean, jaw dropping unbelievable. You're problably sitting home, watching the Falcons lose again (sorry, had to get that in there), and this lunatic from Cali calls. Amazing. And now, after all these years, you're doing something you love. Not to say you didnt love your profession - but I mean, you are now involved in something that obviously lights a fire in you.

22 years to the day. Amazing. Didnt someone say there are no coincidences?

Wow.

Thanks to all as well...I missed some names (not intentionally - I'm not the sharpest spoon in the drawer!) - a gentleman named Jaminid that was stuck in 2-g for 2 years, ldeit - as well as others.

Patrick