I just woke up and checked this thread, and find myself overwhelmed with the kind of response here.
Thank you....all of you. For chiming in and supporting me, for reassuring me once again that YLF is a special place, for adding your own thoughts and feelings. When i wrote this post, I wasn't sure if anyone who'd even read it. Honestly, I didn't write it for that reason either. I just wanted to put those feelings out and extend my gratefulness for everyone here. It is overwhelming that almost all of you...people I've only known by name when I read comments on other threads, managed to join in. Thanks.
Special thanks to Robin. I think I can say that your wise words ring true for many of us.
ABC, we're so definitely gonna be friends <3