One year ago today, on August 2, 2002, I received a letter from Columbia,TN containing one of the worst pieces of news I have heard in my life. My closest friend in pen paling, Don Fraser, had died on July 16th at age 50. I think I have posted about Don on here in the past. We met through an advertisement in Leg Action magazine in 1997. I responded to an ad of a male into tickling. At that time, I was developing my interest in tickling. The interest goes back to the late 1980's, when I began to read articles about tickling in leg magazines. I had first heard of tickling as the "new sex fetish" through Hustler when I turned 18. Anyhow, when Don responded to my letter in 1997, it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship that lasted 4 and a half years. In that time, I had many pen pals, none of whom I could really rely on to keep in touch, except for old faithful Don. Every week, and sometimes twice a week, Don would write me and we would discuss tickling, feet, or the latest female pen pal that we planned to ask what we came to call "Our Favorite Question" to. Don and I also discussed much about Life. Our feelings and fears about Sept 11, 2001, the world, the USA, and many other diverse subjects. In June of 2002 shortly after getting online, I received a warning for asking a girl tickle questions in another chat, and Don, being the older brother type that he was, expressed his concern and his advice for me not to do so, to avoid trouble. I first came to TMF in late August 2002, in the old TMF chat. I find it extremely ironic that just after Don died, I found this wonderful place with a fantastic group of people who share similar interests to myself. In the last year, the mods, chatters, and members of the TMF have become like my online family. I value my relationship with the TMF as much as anything in my life, and I hope both it and the TMF continue for a long time. The members of the TMF have been a great source of strength, comfort and understanding to me through these very difficult last few months as I've experienced a cancer scare with my mother, and now heart trouble with my father. Finding this forum where Iam both accepted and welcomed by a group of people for who Iam, has been a light in my life through a very dark year with many turbulent events. On this first anniversary, I want to remember Don, and thank him for his entertaining letters discussing tickling. I also want to say how priviliged I feel to be part of the TMF. I want to thank the mods for their dedication. Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank the chatters. So many of you who frequent the chat have enriched my life in the last 11 months, and I hope I have a positive effect on all of your lives and the TMF as well. That is always my goal. I do know that Iam teased good naturedly about ladders, etc, and that we all have this ongoing good natured ribbing about that. I accept myself for what Iam, but what I try to be is a positive influence on myself, the TMF, and all of you if I can be. Without Don, and his interest in tickling, I never would have found the TMF, and if I had never found the TMF, I would have missed out on all the wonderful experiences I've had here in the past year. My only regret is that Don did not live to see me find this wonderful forum, and perhaps to share in it for himself. I do believe that somewhere, my late pal Don is watching and smiling, happy that his friend Mitch has found such a place to enjoy.
Mitch
Mitch
