Thank you ehMacland.

You are my go-to folks.

You humored me when I griped about the current cleavage fashion trend; you helped me ditch cable and still watch everything worth watching without it; you chided me when I was being a smartass; and then you defended my right to be so. You allowed me to vent, and ask stupid questions, and when I bought a Windows laptop, you didn't make fun of me, instead, you helped me a great deal.

When I don't understand a political issue, I know I can find lively debate here. When my grandson stayed up late and watched pron on my laptop, your level heads helped me deal with the matter without turning it into a BIG DEAL. Later, when it looked like the same grandson had slipped a gear, your advice helped me to provide a neutral corner for him. He is doing well now and has a steady job in the oil patch. I'm proud of him.

I could go on, but there isn't room here for all the ways you've helped me.

Some of you know or have guessed, I've lived with a devastating mental illness for many years and have been a recluse for much of that time. The Internet has been I lifesaver. I wish I could pinpoint the illness, but mental illness is not like a broken bone; more often it's a matter of trying various therapies until one works. I was fortunate in that my former employer gave me a silver handshake and I was old enough that some pension money was available to me so being a recluse was possible and I was able to take the time to mend.

I'm happy to report that I am now well on the road to recovery and will be able to enjoy the years ahead.

When you reflect on your life, remember me and know that you have made a difference.

Thank you, Margaret

Thank you ehMacland.

You are my go-to folks.

You humored me when I griped about the current cleavage fashion trend; you helped me ditch cable and still watch everything worth watching without it; you chided me when I was being a smartass; and then you defended my right to be so. You allowed me to vent, and ask stupid questions, and when I bought a Windows laptop, you didn't make fun of me, instead, you helped me a great deal.

When I don't understand a political issue, I know I can find lively debate here. When my grandson stayed up late and watched pron on my laptop, your level heads helped me deal with the matter without turning it into a BIG DEAL. Later, when it looked like the same grandson had slipped a gear, your advice helped me to provide a neutral corner for him. He is doing well now and has a steady job in the oil patch. I'm proud of him.

I could go on, but there isn't room here for all the ways you've helped me.

Some of you know or have guessed, I've lived with a devastating mental illness for many years and have been a recluse for much of that time. The Internet has been I lifesaver. I wish I could pinpoint the illness, but mental illness is not like a broken bone; more often it's a matter of trying various therapies until one works. I was fortunate in that my former employer gave me a silver handshake and I was old enough that some pension money was available to me so being a recluse was possible and I was able to take the time to mend.

I'm happy to report that I am now well on the road to recovery and will be able to enjoy the years ahead.

When you reflect on your life, remember me and know that you have made a difference.

Thank you, Margaret

Well said, Margaret. Each person's life may touch the lives of so many other people. I am glad you shared a bit of your life with us. Paix, mon amie.

Hi, Margaret. I always enjoy your posts here and I'm glad this place has been helpful to you, as it has to me.

Thanks for the really nice post Margaret and thanks for being a part of ehMac.ca. :)

I've always enjoyed our friendship, Margaret.

I'd never have detected any mental illness, Margaret, as your posts have always made sense to me. Glad you're on the road to recovery, though. And don't worry about the stigma of mental illness; you're certainly in good company. :)

http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/famous_people.htm

Happy Festivus!


Famous People with Bipolar Disorder

Actors & Actresses

Ned Beatty
Maurice Bernard, soap opera
Jeremy Brett
Jim Carey
Lisa Nicole Carson
Rosemary Clooney, singer
Lindsay Crosby
Eric Douglas
Robert Downey Jr.
Patty Duke
Carrie Fisher
Connie Francis, singer and actress
Shecky Greene, comedian
Linda Hamilton
Moss Hart, actor, director, playright
Mariette Hartley
Margot Kidder
Vivien Leigh
Kevin McDonald, comedian
Kristy McNichols
Burgess Meredith, actor, director
Spike Milligan, actor, writer
Spike Mulligan, comic actor and writer
Nicola Pagett
Ben Stiller, actor, director, writer
David Strickland
Lili Taylor
Tracy Ullman
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Robin Williams
Jonathon Winters, comedian

Artists

Alvin Alley, dancer, choreogapher
Ludwig Von Beethoven
Tim Burton, artist, director
Francis Ford Coppola, director
George Fredrick Handel, composer
Bill Lichtenstein, producer
Joshua Logan, broadway director, producer
Vincent Van Gogh, painter
Gustav Mahier, composer
Francesco Scavullo, artist, photographer
Robert Schumann, composer
Don Simpson, movie producer
Norman Wexler, screenwriter, playwright

Entrepreneurs

Robert Campeau
Pierre Peladeau
Heinz C. Prechter
Ted Turner, media giant

Financiers

John Mulheren
Murray Pezim

Miscellaneous

Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
Clifford Beers, humanitarian
Garnet Coleman, legislator (Texas)
Larry Flynt, publisher and activist
Kit Gingrich, Newt's mom
Phil Graham, owner of Washington Post
Peter Gregg, team owner and manager, race car driver
Susan Panico (Susan Dime-Meenan), business executive
Sol Wachtier, former New York State Chief Judge

Musicians

Ludwig van Beethoven, composer
Alohe Jean Burke, musician, vocalist
Rosemary Clooney, singer
DMX Earl Simmons, rapper and actor
Ray Davies
Lenny Dee
Gaetano Donizetti, opera singer
Peter Gabriel
Jimi Hendrix
Kristen Hersh (Throwing Muses)
Phyllis Hyman
Jack Irons
Daniel Johnston
Otto Klemperer, musician, conductor
Oscar Levant, pianist, composer, television
Phil Ochs, musician, political activist, poet
John Ogden, composer, musician
Jaco Pastorius
Charley Pride
Mac Rebennack (Dr. John)
Jeannie C. Riley
Alys Robi, vocalist in Canada
Axl Rose
Nick Traina
Del Shannon
Phil Spector, musician and producer
Sting, Gordon Sumner, musician, composer
Tom Waits, musician, composer
Brian Wilson, musician, composer, arranger
Townes Van Zandt, musician, composer

Poets

John Berryman
C.E. Chaffin, writer, poet
Hart Crane
Randall Jarrell
Jane Kenyon
Robert Lowell
Sylvia Plath
Robert Schumann
Delmore Schwartz

Political

Robert Boorstin, special assistant to President Clinton
L. Brent Bozell, political scientist, attorney, writer
Bob Bullock, ex secretary of state, state comptroller and lieutenant governer
Winston Churchill
Kitty Dukasis, former First Lady of Massachusetts
Thomas Eagleton, lawyer, former U.S. Senator
Lynne Rivers, U.S. Congress
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States
Scholars

John Strugnell, biblical scholar

Scientists

Karl Paul Link, chemist
Dimitri Mihalas

Sports

Shelley Beattie, bodybuilding, sailing
John Daly, golf
Muffin Spencer-Devlin, pro golf
Ilie Nastase, tennis
Jimmy Piersail, baseball player, Boston Red Sox, sports announcer
Barret Robbins, football
Wyatt Sexton, football
Alonzo Spellman, football
Darryl Strawberry, baseball
Dimitrius Underwood, football
Luther Wright, basketball
Bert Yancey, athlete
TV & Radio

Dick Cavett
Jay Marvin, radio, writer
Jane Pauley

Writers

Louis Althusser, philosopher, writer
Honors de Balzac
Art Buchwald, writer, humorist
Neal Cassady
Patricia Cornwell
Margot Early
Kaye Gibbons
Johann Goethe
Graham Greene
Abbie Hoffman, writer, political activist
Kay Redfield Jamison, writer, psychologist
Peter Nolan Lawrence
Frances Lear, writer, editor, women's rights activist
Rika Lesser, writer, translator
Kate Millet
Robert Munsch
Margo Orum
Edgar Allen Poe
Theodore Roethke
Lori Schiller, writer, educator
Frances Sherwood
Scott Simmie, writer, journalist
August Strindberg
Mark Twain
Joseph Vasquez, writer, movie director
Mark Vonnegut, doctor, writer
Sol Wachtler, writer, judge
Mary Jane Ward
Virginia Woolf

Having met Margaret in person, I can say she is one fine gal. She came to visit the wife and I in a campground when we were in her city. On another occasion, I was in a different city, alone in my motor home and in some stress due to a sudden illness. Margaret was expecting me to drop in the next day and to make a long story short, talked me through a very troubling time for me. I will always remember her kindness and concern and to this day consider her a friend. It takes a pretty stable soul to do such things Margaret. Glad to hear you are feeling better and thanks for past favours. A sincere Merry Christmas to you and as my childhood idol, Roy Rogers used to say, "May the good Lord take a likin' to you."

I am glad you are feeling better, though I never noticed anything either. I am glad you are comfortable with us. May that never change.

What a nice message, Margaret.

I've always enjoyed your posts, and am glad you're here.

Margaret I am glad to hear you are on the mend. I had no idea you have been suffering as it was never apparent to me in your posts. My mother suffered from depression all her life, those who don't see the true pain and suffering that it brings on have no idea how debilitating it can be.

In 2002 after the sudden death of my father and for other reasons I developed anxiety and panic disorder. After numerous panic attacks in which I thought I was dying and having suffered the side effects of ineffective medication I was finally prescribed an effective medication and have been attack free for several years now.

All that to say I understand first hand the effects of mental illness and what it is like to feel better so I am very happy for you that you too are feeling better.

A very Merry Christmas to you and Happy and Healthy New Year.

I wouldn't have known either. I have several very good friends who have had similar struggles, a couple very severe, but they are pretty special people, and count myself pretty lucky to have them as friends.

Happy to have you here Margaret. I'm glad you've enjoyed your time here as well.
I've always enjoyed your contributions. Keep 'em coming!