Thank you, Nick, for the kind words.
I know you won't be posting, but I hope you'll be just curious enough to take a peek at this thread later on and read what everyone's written to and about you.
You where one of the first guys here that got me going and got me sucked in to this forum (even though most of you where 4 times my age, if not more). Not knowing a great amount of English and knowing even less about the game of football, people like you, Shawn, Dave, Rourke, Paul, Kevin pretty much accepted me any way.
Not a big deal for most, but coping with some heavy social anxiety to a point where I'd miss 50% of school because of being terrified to just go there, it was a blessing. I didn't see it as running away, I saw it as a different way to get into contact with people and get better.
With Rourke gone from this place, I feel like you're the second to leave of the people who where partially responsible for my turn around.
The only thing that makes this one even heavier is knowing, to an extent, what you've been through.
The exact same thing as my dad.
The way you turned around, fought that demon and left it behind... I'm nothing more than impressed by you and I thank you for the work you've continued to do in that field.
I know you've faced some hardships. Your veteran's day post about Vietnam still moves me every single time I read it and, even though I've been together with my girl for just short of a year, which is not in a single way comparable to your situation, I can't even imagine having to go through what you've been through.
Yet, you've always been one of the most understanding and upbeat members of this forum.
I just want to thank you for everything you've done Nick. Things often make a bigger impact on people than you know. Good luck with your life and your son. May he become as upstanding a man as you are.