Enjoyed a beautiful evening tonight at the fabulous Blue Angels reception here at the Hilton. Several hundred people in attendance. First time we'd been invited and it was a real privilege. Met and spoke with many excellent young men and women on the expansive team -- from pilots to a flight surgeon to maintenance, logistics, and technical advisors -- and some of their proud families. A very heartening experience. Was especially privileged to meet the young woman C-130 pilot who is the very first female Blue Angels pilot in its 70-year history (the team's birthday was celebrated tonight.) Watching her rather diminutive self coax that huge machine through the skies is truly amazing and inspiring. I told her how proud we all were of her and she seemed genuinely appreciative. Just a very nice person, as was everyone we met. And it was obvious to all in attendance that the Blues dearly love Pensacola and Pensacola Beach.
Perfect evening.
So you may just imagine my delight upon returning home to find that Sea had finally solved the mystery of whether or not and when I'd previously outed myself! Woo hoo! Good for him. Obviously I had been concentrating solely on remembering what I did (or rather didn't do) on the PNJ forums, which of course Sea had insisted multiple times was where I had outed myself, when I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would
never have done that on such a dangerous forum
So his memory was faulty on that aspect, and my own brain, thinking PNJ forums only, did not therefore click "bingo" to bring up the 2013 "self-outing" here. But isn't it great that I was able to give him the clues (or incentive, or both) to search for posts regarding the 2013 Bowden-bashing Viewpoint?
WOW, I'm really glad he found that because (1) it demonstrates that, if either one of us has early onset Alzheimer's, by his definition (of simply forgetting something) we both do, and (2) if he hadn't found it today, he likely would've been searching for something (anything) to prove me wrong until the very day he died, and we wouldn't want that, now would we?
(Though I suppose I should be honored that Sea is that terribly anxious and concerned about whether or not RealLindaL is right on something. Ha.)
Anyway, I see in reading back through that entire thread Sea found that I never was in fact able to actually provide a link to my Viewpoint piece, but obviously a few interested readers were able to find it, and I thank them for the effort.
I was reminded, in reading through that thread tonight, how very hard it was for me to do at the time -- to let forum members and guests know where they could see something I wrote that would thus identify me. Contrary to pride (no, actually, that's Sea's own ego he keeps thinking he sees in me, as Hallmark will attest), I was reminded that what I was feeling at the time was a certain sense of trepidation at revealing my identity. To take the leap I obviously must've felt a whole lot more confidence in this group than I ever did in the PNJ forum members as a whole.
In fact, to quote myself from that thread, in speaking of my desire to debunk Bowden's untruths:
SOMEBODY HAD TO SAY SOMETHING. And as Seaoat should appreciate, because he values his privacy and anonymity as much as I do, it took a lot of deep thought before I "outed" myself today. This is the first time since the PNJ forums were born after Ivan that Linda L. has been identified, and believe you me I don't like it.So, no -- ego was not involved in the least, Mr. Trump.
And ego is definitely not involved when I offer my apology for having stated that Seaoat first outed me here. Obviously, as he proved, I did that myself, three years back. I'm sorry my memory failed me on that count, but these things happen to the best of us. At least I didn't accuse him of any nefarious motive for doing so, as I never thought that for a moment.
Sorry also to you, Viking, for having defended me so well and now probably being disappointed that Sea was at least partially correct (even though he got the venue thoroughly wrong). Wouldn't blame you if you don't stick up for me in future, because, OMG, I'm a fallible human being.
But at least I'm one who knows how to apologize.
I do find it rather entertaining that someone who constantly uses ad hominem attacks, whether directly or indirectly ("passive-aggressively," Sal might say), would decry their use by others.
And as for my being "vanquished by the mighty Seaoat," nothing could be farther from the truth, as anyone of any discernment who knows the character of this consummately arrogant, egocentric individual will surely agree. I am, in fact, not feeling vanquished in the least, and wish you all (well, most of you) a fond goodnight.
__LL