TriAya's 20,000th Commemorative Melon Press Post

Thank you.

20,000x thank you.

To BT, and BTers, you’ve literally saved my life. You continue to make the difference, every day, in the quality of that life. For carrying me through the dark times—and many of you went WAY out of your way to do so—but moreover, for being my sun every single day: thank you.

And while I’m beyond grateful for what you’ve done, and do for me, most of all: thank you for living, and trying, and believing, and doing the way you do … it’s in your first three-mile run … it’s in your first IM … your fifth … it’s sharing your heartbreak … it’s holding your head high through illness and injury … it’s enjoying your children … your dogs … even your cats.

You show me, by who you are, that the impossible is just one step farther, and how the beauty lies not so much in achieving it, but in each stroke you took to get there.

And you’re just so much damned fun.

This time I’m not chickening out, and I WILL name names. I wish I could name all of them, but BT’s only got so much bandwidth, and I’m already clearly taking more than my fair share. Forgive me for the short words. I’m also incredibly forgetful, so don’t take it personally if you aren’t here specifically. Need consolation? Here, have a big booby Yanti juicy {{{MELON PRESS}}}. It’s on me! Literally!

Lucy and Bunnyrunner: There have been so many difficult times when I have thought of you, and what you would give to be having such times, and it makes even those moments precious.

JoshKaptur: because YOU wanted me to name names, AND you’re really in a category of your own. You already were, even as a Barloworld newbie. xTHAT by 20,000 now, in every way: faith, firm flesh, faster, farther, further, funnier, fervent, fortitude, FRIENDSHIP. Of the highest order. Stop it. You’re making me cry, as usual. I need to move on.

NIBBS

To all of you … the best challenge team I wasn’t actually on, and THANK YOU for all the wild entertainment, and suffering through my (incredibly bizarre) relationships and (also incredibly bizarre) life with me!

Judi: every freakin’ day. You make my life awesome EVERY FREAKIN’ DAY. If I stopped to catalog it all, what you’ve meant to me and who you’ve become since Barloworld days, you know we’d be here for another 20K posts, right?

Bethie Love: my personal pixie (whose charmed-life charm I am), a phenomenal Manatee mentor, a breathtakingly beautiful woman inside and out, YOU are who I want to be when I grow up. Oh … and the only person on BT (despite egregious rumor!) that I have actually slept with.

Miss Kitty Cat: Your open arms and life-changing TdF challenge to this stupid, crazy, overeager newbie are major reasons why I stayed (and am still three out of those four, heh). Since then, a deeply trusted and beloved friend … always remember that your personal challenges and how you navigate them are deeply meaningful and inspiring to so many … to me.

Deeders: Dogs. Parents. Recovery. Reality. Hilarity. J You too pull me through by every means of empathy.

Badger Jen Moose: Enjoy your cruise. We’ll talk when you get back.

Phor my Phavorite Phil: a giant, vacuum, seriously hypoxic {{{MELON PRESS}}} … and for chasing me down and giving them to me when I just couldn’t do anything on my own.

Mila: you, your  Exhibits, Big Dumb Dog … you too showed me how to power on, no matter what, and power down, too.

TAN

Feeshee: you were the VERY FIRST to welcome me to BT, with a PM no less (since I didn’t bother to Introduce Myself) and little did I know then as you continued to shepherd me through my first few months, the own endurance race you were in … BEAT CANCER. EAT WAFFLEZ. And like that.

Scout: there’s a hundred different things a Scout break means to me now, and all of them are AWESOME. If I could thank you enough for always holding on to me, I would.

Crowny: *sniff.* *SNIFF* drool. Why is it your very appearance makes funny things ooze off my face?

Schwammie: gentle {{{MELON PRESS}}}.

John: the ultimate hot Marine and the coolest dude on BT. Thanks for reaching out to me.

The Old Crew: that would be everybody when *I* was the FNG … I lost count of the days when the only thing in the whole world that could put any color into anything (I think “colorful” is a nice way to describe us and how we talk) was all of you guys talking about nothing. If I could come and post in TAN, I knew I could probably live through another day.

The FNGs: that would be all of you who came later. J {{{MELON PILE}}} jump right in!!!

Keith, my love! You will always be my love, and I promise to always make you blush. Oh, and my old dog is thinking of you. And ducks.

And the rest of my BT welcoming committee—including the SoCal Cool Kids Hans, Heffe Muffin, and ChrisM (thank you for rallying the troops when I couldn’t, and you NEVER KNOW what kind of a difference you can make, THANK YOU FOREVER for making it, ah gawd, I’m cryin’ again) and tupuppy—thanks for includin’ the dumb, LOUD newbie and cheering me on until I wasn’t a newbie anymore … and even now.

HORNY MELONS

Who knew that a challenge team could actually save your life?

To MELons, Ruuuudeeee, Robin, Mike (I know you’re still out there!) and the others … my eternal love, gratitude and endless {{{MELON PRESSES}}} to the people who started IT ALL and PRESS ON with me still.

MODS

Who knew that some silly website of strangers could actually save your life and change it forever?

THANK YOU, all of you, for this place and the tons you put in to keep making it happen, for SO MANY THOUSANDS—it overwhelms me just to see it from my tiny window.

marmadaddy: everything you want BT to be, in your sig line, is the SHORT list of what it and you personally are to me. Hmmm … can I try to thank you with another 20K? Please?

Derektor: because of you (always telling me that me and/or my dogs are going to die), I fear neither death nor any man. Particularly ones who … who … never mind. Oh, and you’ve made me pee myself laughing. More than once.

the bear: what a poser. You’re neither furry (shaver!), nor a curmudgeon (nice try, Teddy Guy), and you’re in awfully good shape. Awwww BEAR HUG {{{MELON PRESS}}}!!! Congrats, Sugar!

Socks: wow. This one is an insta-cry. I love you, and if you fell off the planet, not only would I notice, care, and suffer, I am damned well coming after you, you hear???

Rick: say it. SAY IT!!! You know what I love to hear! Thank you. J

Ron: I still have that first Welcome to BT PM you sent … and I notice when you hit the Introduce Yourself list. I’m trying to keep the faith there and you’re a big part of it.

Jessica: as if you’re not busy enough … you, and the new training groups, are gold.

Suzanne: Your wisdom and experience, and the time you put in to share them with anyone who asks, is amazing.

MANATEES

You all have taught me far more than anything I ever brought to the table. I am humbled by all of you, as athletes and as humans, and consider it a tremendous privilege to share your journees. HIGH FLIPPER!

Miss Bunny: for steak, for love, for brutal honesty, for your brilliance, courage, generosity, and friendship … thank you for walking with me.

Lynn: I only co-mentor with really sizzling redheads. Who are wise, giving, centered, available, always striving, and people I utterly look up to and want to be like. J

Art: for holding down the fort when we couldn’t. Congratulations, Ironman!!!

Steve: to be folded into that sweet, round Southern accent as big as your heart whenever I needed a place to rest … yes, hon … without you, I wouldn’t be here, and I think of you, and what you’ve done for me, and the real gift being what you’ve had the courage to do FOR YOURSELF, every day.

Leslie, Bill, Lynne and Erin … for overcoming such amazing things in your own life, yet never drawing into yourselves, but always reaching out to others … giving … encouraging … and to me.

DONKAI NATION

Ay Jay and Craig: thank you for looking out for my donkey a$$ when you were trying to hold on to your own. Yes … the sun did rise today.

trixie: never underestimate the lifesaving power of a chewable calf.

Peggy: your own journey—the braid of all of them—is strong enough not only to bear you, but others … like me.

Whizzzzz: because you make this place what it is, and had a long time before I came along, showed me how we roll and what we do here by being that FOR ME, and still do.

GHOULIE CRUSHERS

How awesome are we to be the next epic challenge crowd, AND we’re the new kids on the block, so to speak. Thanks for playing, for letting me play, and it’s SO GOOD to ride with you all!!!

AND THE REST OF YOU RABBLE ROUSERS WHO DEFY ANY CATEGORIZATION …

Chah der muf fin … no fuss. Just your proper name (Chadermuffin) and thank you. J

Reeeeeesa: I hope I can be in a tiny way for you—so much light, so much hope, so much love—that you’ve always been, in a huge way, for me.

Dave: and you too.

ROCKIN’ BOB STOCKS: see, you’re not just my hero … you’re a SUPERHERO!!!!! I have no idea what a superlative guy like you is doin’ slummin’ with the likes of me, but … like you always do in races no matter what … JUST KEEP GOING!

Bryan of the mndiver variety … giant funny farts can make the difference between life and death, too. Particularly if you share them.

Tim of the condorman variety … remember whatever’s going on now, or will: you carried me through some serious shiznit, and you can make it through your own.

Steeeeepheeeee … I tried to hold out for you. I really did.

My darling Jasha … everything I think and want to say, I shouldn’t. So consider it thought, and said.

Mary … full of light and healing, and hope, and love, and faith, and dogs, and every most wonderful thing in the whole wide world. MWAH!!!

Jeanette … yours is the perfect example of how a seemingly ordinary life has THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY effects on so many people … you have given to me and loved me SO MUCH … it amazes me how you manage to do this for everyone around you, too.

Teagan: what, in this thread too? Read what I said in yours, and x2!

Leigh: is there anything you don’t, or can’t do? It means so much that you extend your paw to me, time and time again, always, whether or not I can even wag my own tail.

KathyG: you probably won’t read this, and that’s one of the things I really admire about you. J You are the Empress of this place, mainly because you don’t hold yourself out to be. THANK YOU for taking me under your wing and showing me, most of all by example and your unbelievable drive and spirit, what it means to be an Ironwoman.

There are COUNTLESS others, and I want to specifically call out LostSheep, windnsnow, TeddieMao, DonTracy, CoachH and Z as people who absolutely carried me when I struggled so hard just to breathe and be.

I recently had to cull my Friends list because it got too unwieldy and it wound up expanding.

Know that however small or large a part you’ve played in my life via BT, it means the world to me. Everyone who has ever responded to my posts, and suffered through my race reports, and left an inspire, or shot me a PM … THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

And a giant, whole-world, fruit-pile {{{MELON PRESS}}} to every last one of you!