[pressgang] Epitaph

[prydonia]

1997 seems like forever ago. I found Press Gang on an obscure cable channel here in the US and immediately fell in love with it and wanted to know what on Earth I was watching. I found the Unofficial Press Gang page Matt made and followed the link to this mailing list. I almost quit after my first post because someone hated it. For some reason, I chose to stick around and gradually I figured out how to fit in with the wonderful band of people from around the globe who loved the show as much as I did. I never imagined our group would play such an important role in my life.

Back in those days, Steve Darlington was on the list and wrote a cross-over fan fiction between Press Gang and Doctor Who. I hated it. I said I could do better. I was told to prove it. The result was "Stealing Eden", the first of a number of short stories that were my baby steps into the world of writing for an audience. I'm a bit embarrassed by them now, but I can still read them and smile. I loved the fact people enjoyed what I wrote and wanted me to keep going. I'm writing my first novel now and using some of those lessons I learned from this community to do it.

I fell in love on this list. Like Kenny, I got dumped. I was a very flawed individual in those years and had built the foundation of my life on a crumbling house of cards. There is something terrifying about waking up at age 29 and realizing you lived your entire life based on a lie and had nothing to show for it. I had a nervous breakdown and wanted to die. Someone from this list talked me into living. So many people on this list supported and encouraged me during those dark times. I spent two years traveling the world thanking as many people for their kindnesses as I could. In the years since, some of the friends I made here have become my rocks in times of stress and uncertainty.

Quote of the Day has been my thank you to this list for everything you have done for me. It has been an honor and privilege to do it these many years. I hope we can save the list. I don't want it to go. Just know that I was able to change my life because of this show and the people who loved it. Thank you Matt for all of your hard work through the years giving up this space to share. We love you for it.

Kevin Nauta
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