Sir

I have recieved advice from you over this past year, and (more often) watched you give it. Lately it seems reserved for the nastiest situations where I do not dare to stick my nose.

Wisdom and calmness drips from your words like dark honey. You manage to make people come to their own right conclusions rather than actually instructing people.

My own training as a commercial negotiator means I can see some devastatingly effective use of negotiating tools, and an overwhelming genuine care or the lives of the people you counsel.

Your contributions make me feel like an anxious, loquacious dilletante, clumsy, too urgent, passionate and impatient. Inept. But in a way that makes me want to calm down and formally improve my skills in this arena. Amateur to your expert. Little league to your world series.

I think it is important that I tell you these things today. You could no more be tool of God's peace if you were an Actual angel sent by God JL, and I thank Him for you.

Long may you contribute to this wonderful, ramshackle field hospital and set the poorest souls on the path to comfort.

Sir I salute you. Thank you.

Sincerely

Bob Pure

I can't say enough about him either..

he moves with God's grace amongst this board...
his words are
always
calming
and
soothing


I join in that salute...Bob..

ARK

I can't tell you how many times I had said to myself thank God JL is here! He deftly handles those tough nuts I wouldn't touch with a 10 ft pole without getting arrested. JL, your tact, diplomacy and patience is truly amazing. Hard to believe ya ain't a Texan! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As one who was a "typical" candidate for JL's words and wiseness, I can't say enough good about the man. In my position as the FWW, I just can't put into words how JL's gentle probing and sometimes not so gentle 2x4s can make a HUGE difference in an FWW's recovery. All the difference.

My heart warms when I see you, JL, getting to the heart of another FWW's babble and I think, YES, he's going to get through where no one else has.

Now stop blushing - you know it's true. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jen

Yes, there's a sigh of relief from me when JL turns up. Like the cavalry riding quietly over the brow of the hill, a one-man army of patience and calm.

Down in the valley, streaked with blood and waving a stick, there's usually Mel. (And over on the other hill, there's me watching through binoculars.)

He's been our rock and cornerstone here at MB for a long time. I think he came shortly after I did.

I cannot thank him enough for all the help he has provided me personally... sometimes posting to me and sometimes to others and I just lurk and read.

THANK YOU JL!

Susan <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Folks,

Thank you. You are all too kind really. I find it interesting that each of you have said such nice things about me, but in reality what you say is true of each of you. YOu all have helped so many here and it is "fun" to watch the different styles. I think that is what makes this site so helpful to people, is that they get to choose between various styles of communication. Yet the message is the same...things can and probably will get better.

I will say to Mel, that I do have some roots in your part of the country, marrying a girl from Austin and getting a degree from UT. I have relatives down in your part of the world as well. So believe me I DO know what you are talkin about girl. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

BP, do you know I have been to the UK probably 20 times in my life and I have NEVER seen it rain. I have spent up to 2 weeks at a time there and it never rains. I don't understand all I hear about is the weather in your part of the world.

KiwiJ, I have spent some time in your area of the world as well and it reminded me a lot of where I live now on the LEFT coast. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What you all don't realize is that each of you enrich my life, in some very interesting ways and that after all of this time I am still learning more and more about the human condition and how I view things. So as ususual I have gotten more from being here than I have been able to give.

But, thank you again for you kind words.

God Bless,

JL