Hey! Today is my 13 year DU anniversary!

[Control-Z]

It was only by accident that I landed on my profile page.

Oooh. Maybe there are outside, paranormal forces at work in my world?

Nah. Just kidding. It was my own klutzy way of reading on my phone. I am always accidentally clicking on things.

But it really is my 13 year anniversary. I'm so glad to have found my home all those years ago. I'm not sure if I'd even be here still (on this Earth) if I hadn't. DU has been a life saver for me.

Thank you, my DU family.

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Congratulations, Control-Z!

[Control-Z]

12. Thank you, littlemissmartypants.

I love your name!! All these years on the internet and I have yet to come up with a great or even slightly clever username. Yours is great!

[littlemissmartypants]

13. Thanks! ❤ nt

[CottonBear]

2. Happy DU Anniversary!

DU is a wonderful online home!

[Control-Z]

16. Thanks, CottonBear!

Sometimes my online home feels safer here than my RL home. Lol.

[DFW]

3. Now you made me look at my own profile

My 13 year anniversary was March 17th.

I'd make plans for my 20th, but first, I gotta live that long!

[Control-Z]

18. Lol!

Funny how you start looking at things that way. Though, I have to admit I've never made plans more than 6 or so months in advance. It has served me well!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Congratulations!

And thank you for all your thoughtful contributions - and for sticking with us for this long!

[Control-Z]

19. Aw. Thanks, Rhiannon.

It's good to have a place where you know most everyone is pretty like minded. The only other place that ever made me feel as safe was the March for Women's Lives back in 2004.

I swear, it was like having a million friends I'd never met but who absolutely understood me.

I hope this community is around for many years to come.
I felt so lost when DU was hacked/shut down on election night, 2016. And I know I wasn't alone. It made me appreciate DU all the more.

[montana_hazeleyes]

5. Congratulations Control-Z

I've been a member on DU for 16 years now. I don't post a lot, but I'm here almost every day.

I just wanted to tell you how much I agree with you about how so very much DU means and has meant to so many of us.

[Control-Z]

20. Yes, I think most DUers feel that way.

The last few years I haven't posted as much as I used to. I've been going through a period where I felt my life would be richer if I listened more and posted less.

We have some of the sharpest minds posting here. People who somehow provide us with news and stories before anyone else has them. I don't know how they do it. It kind of blows my mind. The amount of time and effort it must take - it's feels like a gift to me.

[Cha]

6. Congratulations on #13,

Control-Z! Thank You!

[Control-Z]

21. Hey, Cha!

You have been one of the brightest voices on DU. I don't always say much but I always hear you. Thank you.

[Cha]

24. Awww!

Mahalo nui loa to you, CZ..

And, Hoa Aloha~

[2naSalit]

7. Happy 13th!

[Control-Z]

22. Thank you, 2naSalit!

Now, can you tell me how to jump up and down on a couch like that without getting hurt?

I should probably stick to group hugs. So much safer!!

[murielm99]

8. Happy anniversary!

I enjoy your posts.

I looked at my profile after I read about your anniversary. I have been here for sixteen years.

[John1956PA]

10. I had to look at mine, too. Thirteen for me. Congrats to all faithful DUers. n/t

[Control-Z]

25. I remember getting my first 1,000 posts!

Remember back when milestones were put into a thread by one of the admins (iirc it was monthly) congratulating us when we had reached:
1,000 posts
5,000 posts
10,000 posts
and more, that month?

I was still such a newcomer and really wanted to reach my first 1,000 posts on my 1 year anniversary. Of course, I didn't realize the date had arrived and what my post count was until less than an hour before midnight.

So I went over to the Lounge (where I seldom posted at the time, and didn't know a soul) to get some help. And sure enough, in famous DU fashion, members there came to my rescue (there was even one who stuck it out with me until I had reached my final goal - I wish I could remember who it was).

I was able to add 100+ posts to my total count in less than an hour! It made me feel so good to have DU members (some I'd never before spoken to) willing to help. And not for the first time, it made me feel welcome.

After 16 years you're way ahead of me in post count. But who's counting anyway? Hahaha! Like DFW wrote up thread, it's living the years that counts!!

[Vinca]

9. DU does help a person retain their sanity. Congrats!

[Control-Z]

27. Thank you, Vinca. I can't begin to explain

just how much my sanity has been preserved by DU and its wonderful members.

[underpants]

11. Congrats

[Control-Z]

29. Thank you.

Underpants! Another one of my favorite usernames!! It's funny, but until seeing it here I hadn't heard the term, underpants, since I was a very little girl. Might be an east coast-west coast thing. It's underwear or panties now. Lol.

[underpants]

32. It was a quick choice

In Family Vacation (the first one) Clark is trying to get the barkeeps attention “Hey bartender! Hey you! Hey underpants!”

I always thought it was funny so I used it when I joined DU.

[Blue_true]

14. Congrats.

I joined after the 2010 midterms, I needed to be around solid democrats, even online.

Here's to more good years here for you.

[Control-Z]

30. I think a lot of us got here

looking for good solid Democrats. What would we do with only Republicans in our lives? I don't even want to think about it.

Here's to more good years here for you too, Blue_true!

[Blue_true]

31. I feel you. Thinking about republicans is a good way to ruin a delicious dinner. nt

[DesertRat]

15. Congrats! Glad you're part of DU

[Solly Mack]

17. Happy 13 to you!

[aikoaiko]

23. Congrats and now you made me look at my profile. 15 years this June.

[Raine]

26. Congrats

it seems time passes faster and faster anymore, anyway Happy 13!

[Karadeniz]

28. I don't think my brains will hold up for 13 years, but I'm glad yours did! 13 more!?!❤

[CTyankee]

33. I gotcha beat by 2 years!

I couldn't believe that I've been on DU for 15 years...

I remember feelin' groovy about John Kerry's presidential campaign...then came the whole Edwards mess and I felt deflated and kinda ashamed that my party could have such a detriment on our presidential ticket!

Guess my expectations were too high...it sure was a blow and I needed help and got it here with the DU community...

[Dem_4_Life]

34. Happy DU Anniversary!