A Month of Gratitude, Day 2 - The UCF

Monday, December 2, 2013
I have a group of on-line friends. We met on a now defunct discussion board, and found in each other a self-selected group who had the ability to think, to be silly, to be funny, to be friends with one another, in spite of not ever having met in person.

We call ourselves "The UCF." This stands for "The Union of Collaborating Founders," and none of us really remember what that means or how Nathan came up with it. We're just "The UCF."

Over the years, we've made efforts to actually meet one another. I've met almost 70% of the group in person, as well as their wives, husbands and partners. There's a cadre of "UCF Auxiliary" members such as The Mechanicky Gal and Sister Stacey, who enhance and extend our relationships.

We've been friends since the Winter of 2007-2008. We've stood by each other during the very best and the very worst times of our lives. Death. Destruction. New jobs. Old jobs. Break ups. New relationships. Old relationships. You name it, one of us has been through it during the last six years.

There have been members who have drifted away from the group, and new members have been asked to join. But always, the group has been comprised of high quality people, decent people, smart people, people who make me think and enrich my life.

Today I'm grateful for The UCF, who make me laugh and make me feel loved, in all their whacky glory.

7 comments:

Shawn Powers said...

Amen, sister. Easily the best group of friends I've ever had.

Stacey said...

I consider my auxiliary membership one of the best things in my life. I am ever so grateful for this wonderful group and don't know how I could have managed the last 18 months without them.

Anne C. said...

<3 <3 <3

Carol Elaine said...

Ditto, Janiece. And the UCF is grateful for you.

<3

Random Michelle K said...

<3

Love you!!!!!!!!

Dr. Phil (Physics) said...

Well said.

Now who's going to be the first to hijack this thread?

Oops. I must've been me...

Dr. Phil

John the Scientist said...

Wait. I've been off doing job stuff lately. Missed this.

It's not a proper UCF thread without mentioning the weird foodstuffs.

Speaking of which, I will be in Taiwan in just over a week. Need anything? :D