Associated Content/Yahoo Voices - The End

Today is a very sentimental day, I'm sure not only for me, but for many of my fellow writers. Within the next 24 hours or so, Yahoo Voices, the former Associated Content, will disappear from the World Wide Web forever.  It's really hard to believe because it seems like just yesterday that the announcement came from Yahoo that they were shutting down the site.  And now the day has come.  It's going to be weird not to be able to check my latest stats (which have been good lately, too!) or see my profile page and all of my pieces...more than 600 of them, whenever I want.  I still haven't decided where to go from here, but I'm hoping something worthwhile will come up soon.

I've spoken many times before about the site and my background with it, so I'm not going to rehash all of that here.  I've had many blessings through AC/YV over the years, including the many interactions I've had with readers and fellow writers, being interviewed several times, getting one of my poems published in a textbook, being named one of the sexiest guys on AC, getting Ruth Buzzi to write a piece for the site, plenty of accolades and most of all, the friends I've made.  I tell ya, that old AC family of writers was...still is a great bunch of people.  Back in those early days there was a lot of camaraderie and support among us and many of us remain friends to this day, thankfully, via Facebook.

Since I'm feeling so sentimental, I just want to acknowledge some of the great people and talented writers I've been given the opportunity to get to know through Associated Content.  I've said before that it's amazing to be able to meet and get to know people you wouldn't otherwise have ever met via the Internet. These people and others have made me laugh, made me cry, and given me lots of support throughout my time there.  I only wish I'd had more time so that I could share their profile pages with you.  Perhaps in time on some other site, but for now I want to give kudos to the following people:

Abby Greenhill          Bridgitte Williams           Sherry Thornhill
Nancy Canfield         Patricia Sicilia                 Patti Byrd
Lori Lane                  Theresa Leschmann        Lyn Lomasi Evans
Rama Devi Nina Marshall                                Walton Tissot
Randy Duckworth     Roberta Baxter               Jennifer Wagner
Pat Bartels                Jennifer Waite                 Zachary Fenell
Sabah Karimi            Sheryl Young                 Victoria Miller
Becky Whitmore       Janet Hunt                      Lady Samantha
Michele Starkey        Langley Cornwell           Linda McCloud
Donald Pennington    Jersey Nana                   Rachel de Carlos
Bethany Marsh         Shelly Barclay                Jolie Du Pre
Bob Langham           Bobbi Leder                  Michael Segers
Nikki                        Brenda Vincent              Bridget Ilene Delaney
Tony Payne              Orchiolum                      Charlotte Kuchinsky
Malina Debrie          Mallory Collier                Jennifer Bove
Maria Roth              Mary and Mike Olberg
Julia Bodeeb            Christine Zibas               Crystal Ray
Marilisa Sachteleben                                      Maxwell Payne
Karen Bishop          Davida Chazan               Denise Larkin
Han Van Meegerin  Harriet Steinberg            Karen Gros
Kristen Wilkerson                                          Jack Aiello

Wow, when I started writing this list I hadn't realized how many people I'd come to know through AC over the time I'd spent writing there, and that's not even all of them.  But over the last 7 years, I've enjoyed reading their wares and interacting with many of them on a regular basis elsewhere, and I look forward to more.  From stories about a special black Lab in Tennessee to hysterically funny anecdotes about e-cigarettes, politics and more, co-authoring a very special series with a colleague, to sweet poems and helpful product, travel and movie reviews, countless useful how-to's, ramblings from a Byrd's nest and a wacky Aunt Lottie, personal tragedies and pop culture, I've done a lot of reading from some pretty talented writers, who like me, felt they had something to share.  And I love them all!


          

Two other names are missing from this list, two very special people who I grew to love and then lost.  Betty Malone was a good-hearted, optimistic person with a knack for speaking her mind through her writing and was always a big supporter of me when things got heated (long story!).  When she died suddenly on November 17, 2009, I was shocked and heartbroken.  It was the first time I'd ever felt so badly about the death of a person I'd never met face to face.  Betty, you are still missed!

Dan Reveal was another kind-hearted soul that left us way too soon.  He and I became 'fans' of one another early on, and through the site at first, and then via Facebook, we developed the trusting relationship of good friends.  Dan was not only a very talented poet, but a musician and songwriter, as well.  I remember once when he posted a video of himself at the piano, singing a tune he had written, I was literally in awe.  Such a multi-talented man! July 27th, this past Sunday, was a year that Dan lost his battle with cancer.  I couldn't finish this post without mentioning either one of them.  Rest in peace!

So that's it....I feel funny saying so long to Yahoo Voices, because I've always thought of it as Associated Content.  The website has been a constant part of my life for a very long time now, and it's hard to let go, but I have no choice.  Que será, será!