I cant recall if I have posted this before, if this does turn out to be a repeat post, then I apologize. I wanted to post on here as a tribute to someone who had a profound effect on my life, and on my love for tickling, my late pen pal Don Fraser. As I've told some on here, I have been pen paling since 1996, and in that time have asked many female pen pals if they are ticklish in letter. My interest in tickling really did not reach it's peak until after December 1997, when I answered an ad in Leg Show magazine, and Don Fraser wrote me back. At the time, Don was a 46 year old single male. For the next four years, we as much as two or three times a week exchanged letters about tickling, feet, and just plain old life. Don was my one constant when other pen pals came and went. Every time I heard from a female who I had asked the ticklish question to, whether I had received a letter from Don that day or not, a letter would immediately go in the mail to Don saying (whatever girl) had answered what we came to call "Our Favorite Question". Then, whoever had received the answer that day would tell the other word for word what the girl had said. I know we both used to genuinely enjoy when the other got an answer. We also exchanged pictures of women's feet, and stories of our previous tickling experiences with women. Don knew full well of my not ticklish ex who Ive mentioned to all on here. Last year, when I first got this computer, I had received a TOS violation from AOL for asking girls tickle questions in another chat. Don, being the caring older brother type that he was, told me to stick to asking in letters. For several weeks last July, I didnt hear from Don, and I was very worried. My mom kept saying he was probably ill with a cold, and just didnt feel like writing. When you know someone for 5 years, you know better, and I had a feeling something was terribly wrong with my good friend. On Friday, August 2,2002, my worst fears were confirmed. I received a letter from Don's home town of Columbia, TN with strange handwriting. I opened it, and inside was Don's obituary, with a note from his cousin saying she knows he would have wanted me to know of his passing. Don had died on July 16, 2002, before I had received his last letter. He never discussed his medical history, so I dont know if his passing was caused by a sudden attack, or if he had an illness he never told me of. I recall shaking like a leaf when I read the obituary. It amazed me how someone you never even met or talked to on the phone could have such a profound effect on you through letters. The irony is that after all those years of trying to find girl letter pals to answer tickle questions, I found the TMF in the old chat in late August 2002, just weeks after learning of Don's passing. I know if Don had lived, I would have had some great stories to share with him of all of our fine TMF members, and it s likely we would have had another member in Don. (For all those who love to bust my chops about ladders, Don could have joined you, although I dont think I ever discussed ladders with Don, or got into that until I got here) Thus I dedicate my interest in tickling, and my TMF membership to my departed friend Don. Don, I miss you, and without getting too religious or on my soapbox, I hope if there is another world, or an after life, that you can see me now, and see how I enjoy the TMF on a regular basis. The TMF, its mods and chatters are now a very important part of my life, my online "fraternity", and Iam sorry that you did not live long enough to share this special place with me, in addition to all the other special things we shared for the 5 years I knew you.
Mitch
Mitch
