OK, let's just put things straight (eek: :eek
here. Marshlander is taking a break, which might be a long one. He's facing, as someone said, some rather more important issues in his life at the moment. And I daresay he's right to be spending less time on this forum than he needs to spend getting on with his life, which is, at the moment, complicated.
I'm not saying he will be back, but certainly some of the reasons evoked by Fenris were instrumental in his decision. I shall relay your concerns and best wishes, unless he's come secretly to read them. I have no idea if (or when) he will decide to take up on this forum again. That's not my decision. But I too will be happy if he decides to come back, even if for less time.
For some reason, he felt really uncomfortable being the first poster on here. I think every time it told him that he was spending too much time on here and not enough living his real life. Plus, he does not like the idea of competition, that such accounts sort of keep tabs on.
I'm sure we will all continue to find his posts useful and enlightening, as they remain readable by new and old readers alike. What I will miss most, was his indefatigable endeavours for justice to be sought and fought for. His political activism and militancy. I admire him for that. I think, in that sense, he's well ahead of me.
What, maybe, I will miss too, is the picture that the two of us reflected as a gay couple, older maybe, but serene in what we have finally found. I don't know what toll his leaving GaySpeak will take on that image. I thought it was positive, optimistic and mildly challenging.
Right now, I guess he has to face the challenges that life is throwing at him and at us. I am still there to support him, and you, members of GaySpeak have spoken of your moral support for him too.
Thank you all for that.
PA