Last week we passed a milestone, one million comments made by you, the Tree House community.
That’s a thousand X a thousand comments within our ongoing conversation.  Pretty neat huh?
Factually, it’s the best milestone we’ve passed, because it’s not the viewership that we have ever paid attention to; it’s the companionship that matters.  Our trail through the woods has brought some remarkable insight within our journey, and the campfire conversation has expanded many views beyond our horizons.
A million comments; a million bits of information, insight, experience-based opinion, humor and some of the most awesome crowd-sourcing imaginable.
When it comes to a current event needing clarity, you guys are the pioneers of modern data crowd-sourcing.   By collecting various bits of disconnected data, and then returning them for assembly and larger discussion of relevance, new insights are gleaned.  In doing so, often the MSM created Potemkin village collapses and large doses of sunlight reveal what is being hidden.
Upon founding this site we called this little corner of the web “The Last Refuge”, the “Tree House”, because for many of us that’s exactly what we needed.  A place to find common sense, common conversation, and to retreat while we make sense of what’s there.
A place where anyone can pull up a rock and sit around the campfire equally; without fear, without worry and join a conversation.  Or, maybe just sit and listen to a conversation, and somehow make sense of all this busyness we encounter.  A place where emphasis is upon morale; fellowship, not judgement.
A place where we accept that it might be unsettling to hear the neighbors screaming at each other, but yet we don’t judge them; because we know next week it could very well be them sitting on the porch listening to us do the same….. it’s just life.

A thriving on-line community needs two essential ingredients:  #1 A group of earnest, honest and admittedly flawed yet virtuous people passionately assembled in common cause; and #2 A team of moderators to take the role as stewards – looking out for, and protecting, the dignity, value and respect for the ongoing conversation.
Fortunately we have both.
You guys and gals are the best, and we’re proud to be of your acquaintance and humbled by your fellowship.  We will always work diligently to be deserving of your companionship, time, effort, input and support.  You truly do make a difference.
On the Admin side: Stella, Sharon, WeeWeed, Menagerie, Ad Rem, Patriot Dreamer, Tilda and Ytz4Me do an outstanding job of reviewing, balancing content while simultaneously protecting The Last Refuge. It’s a thankless job, yet they do it with an intense amount of care, diligence and altruism.  They carry my unwavering appreciation and loyalty. Steadfast.
Through those million comments we have shared laughs, shared tears, righteously gnashed our teeth, followed intense curiosity, railed against injustice, took time for joyful celebrations and achieved many victories.  You have retained and incredibly unique focus through challenges, and we have all won well; discovering the truth, while earnestly deserving every victory.
Strengthened links – forged amid fires of adversity and cooled in the tears of goals achieved.  An amazing experience…
… always cherished.
Here’s to the next million,
Happy Labor Day !