I have resigned from the Eratosphere. It is likely that because of his leukemia, Alan will predecease his alcoholic partner. At that point I shall apply for readmission. It has been a wonderful six years, and I wish you all well in your poetic endeavors.

God bless you & Alan, Tim.

Not dead yet...

Why does this remind me of Richard Nixon? Oh, well, at least you didn't mention your dog.

PS. Cross posted with Gail. Thank you.

I'll second what Gail says. There are more important things in the world than this poetry board.

And Tim, if you are sincere in your vow (on the timing of your "reapplication"), then I hope you are gone a long, long time.

[This message has been edited by Daniel Haar (edited October 14, 2006).]

Tim,
You will be missed. I have grown accustomed to your face and know how to read the seasons. What a shame.

May you and Alan have more time than either of you can dream of.

You will often be in my thoughts.

Janet

Tim, I'm not convinced -- Alan's post is far too funny for that to be true. But if taking a break from Eratosphere for a while will do you good, then do it, and take care.

I was wondering what I could say to Tim.

And I thought back to the time when I made a formal announcement of my resignation from posting on TDE.

I recall that Tim made no comment on that thread.

So I think I will follow his lead.

You only encourage drama queens if you respond to their tizzies.

http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/ubbhtml/smile.gif

Mark, Tim has been a huge contributor to this Board. His silence was, if nothing else, gentlemanly. Your post is not.

John

I think Mark is just trying to be hopeful that Tim's resignation isn't real, because he'd miss him if he were gone. As we all would. And this hope, as well as others, should not be discounted.

Tim, you've declared the end of an era for your friends at Erato. We'll miss you. Live long and prosper, you and yours.

Dear Tim,
None of us knows when he's going to take that viaje definitivo. Of course it's up to each one of us how we choose to spend the time we think we may have left. That said, I would have liked you to reconsider your resignation, but you know what's best for you.

All the best,
Catherine C.

Timbo, I have a feeling that your natural generosity, your love of poetry and your endearing delight in communication will make it very hard to stick to this resignation you propose. Not only that, but I have a happy hunch that Alan will be with us--and writing glorious stuff, too!--for a long, long time to come. The 'Sphere will be--always has been--a much better place for the presence of both of you, who have done so much to make it what it is.

God bless both of you.

Tim: I'm with those who hope you won't go and with those who've seen this before and aren't sure whether to take it seriously. What the hell, though? I'd rather be a sap than a cad, so I'll bid you farewell every time you pull this maneuver. It was watching a poem of yours go through revision that first hooked me on this place. And when I first posted one of mine, it was the warmth (or was it heat?) of the reception you and Alan (and Janet Kenny and others!) gave me that really sealed the addiction. I've learned a ton from you and enjoyed knowing you a little around here. I wish you and Alan all the best and years and years in which to enjoy it. Take care, Tim. --Simon

P.S. Aside to John Beaton: It's Tim's to decide, I suppose, but I think you misjudge Mark Allinson in this thread. I thought his post was a loving tweak of a friend with whom he might be said to share a certain sensitivity...

Tim--

Good luck with everything... and if you do feel the need to log in again after a couple of weeks, no one will hold it against you.

Quincy

Tim, I'll miss you. I hope you change your mind. But if you don't, health and happiness to you and Alan.

Maryann

I thank all of you for your kind comments. Mark, I just didn't see your post on suspending your postings at TDE, or I'd have said "Say it ain't so, Joe." A number of people have written me privately, including Alex and Carol, suggesting I just take a long vacation. After six years and 10,000 posts, that is just what I shall do. See you all later.

Tim, you can't resign from a group of friends (and I hope that is what we are); you can merely go away. But here or there, you are still part of the group. Come back whenever you feel inclined. You will be welcome.

Susan

What Rhina said. Stick around, guys, both of you. Or take a short vacation, but come back.

"Wolf!" once more; good luck Mr. Murphy.

Tim, by my count you have about 3500 posts to go before you can take a vacation.

Bob, there was a computer glitch that wiped out about 3500 from my post count, did the same to Carol. The computer couldn't count that high. I think 10,000 is approximately right, and I'm taking a vacation. Thanks for your kind comments and all your support over the years, Bob.

I have also had plenty to be grateful for over the past few years from your presence on this site, & even though I'm not posting much right now, I still try to read everything you write on here; your posts are a continual source of fascination and delight. I enjoy and admire your enthusiasm, flammability and vatic single-mindedness; the Sphere will be diminished without you.

Chris

The fact is, this place would be hard to imagine with the presence of the Timster.

And what I meant in my post above was to express a hope that, after at least half a dozen prior "resignations", this one, too, will be withdrawn.

I have "resigned" from the 'Sphere at least four times myself, but I haven't been able to make it permanent.

And I hope you can't either, Tim.

The place without Tim or Terese wouldn't feel quite right.
Here's to the occasional hardheaded rabble rousers...
and anyone who gives a shit about the art.

Tim, always wishing for you and Alan good health, strong sails, and long and winding roads. We all take breaks
from these parts now and then. Hope yours is restful.
wendy

I turn my back for a couple of days, and look what happens! Tim, this puts us in a bind. We can't say that we hope you'll be back soon, can't say we hope you never come back. But maybe you don't have to choose between Alan and the 'sphere...
Anyway, poetry won't leave you alone any more than you can leave it alone. One way or another, I'm sure, we'll hear from you. And from Alan too!
Richard

Tim and Alan,

how can it be the 'sphere without you?

What passes for prayer in me is yours.

Time is precious use it well.

Thank you both,

Jan

I PM'd Tim some days ago, he has much to contribute here, and if he's waiting for Alan to kick the bucket quite a few of us will either have predeceased him or be too old to care.

My best wishes to both of you, and if your best wishes reside in us Timmo, you'll hightail it back here.

Jim

Tim,

Since (as far as I know) Alan's said nothing about resigning, I hope he will be around here for a long time and that you will soon feel inclined to resume the Sphere.

Frank

In reply to Frank, I withdrew in 2003 after several years of intensive participation. For some time I mostly stayed away, though I never formally resigned. I wasn't writing verse, and I had also gotten tired of the tiffs. But lately I have been writing some poems, and I find the workshop quite useful, so I returned to intermittent posting. My health is fine at present. I hope to be around for some time to come -- and I hope the Sphere is around, too.

Tim made a couple of posts at TDE yesterday. No impulse control. His resignations never stick.

Alan

Tim,

Don't resign until I have at least 6,400 posts. I just joined and I joined because I knew you'd be here. I'll be posting often, 2-3 per week.

Steve

Excellent. Good to hear.

Bob

Both of youse should stick around. Don't make me get nasty.

Bobby