<p>I too have had the honor of meeting with, getting information about life, and yes, initially advice about colleges from some of the nicest people in the world. I have opened my mind and my heart and my home for several CCers.</p>
<p>And you have all been (as I hope I have been) the same people in words and in deeds.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>I want to add my thanks also. This is a wonderful group!</p>
<p>I feel the same way. I’ve gotten so much help here and I don’t care if some people think I’m nuts for still being here. The CC people I’ve met IRL have been just as great as I’d thought they’d be.</p>
<p>{{group hug}}</p>
<p>I still have one in the college pipeline but stay for the neat-o adults here :)</p>
<p>Why am I still on CC when my youngest graduated college 2 years ago? Because of the advice, support, and comraderie on this forum. People here are truly nice and helpful.</p>
<p>Echoing previous sentiments. I came here in 04 when my oldest was already a freshman in college. Now my twins are seniors in college. My DH thinks I’m nuts, but what else is new? 
Now I answer specific questions in certain college forums and come with questions relating to DS#1’s wedding! I have met up IRL with a group of CC’er’s who are just as interesting IRL as they are online. Missing the spirit of LTS and sunriseeast. Amazing how close you can become to someone you’ve never met.</p>
<p>Vacuum cleaners, college, house hunting, trip planning… love all the advice. CC helped me with figuring out whether my DD would qualify for National Merit scholarships and what that meant…back in 2003. This was a very LONG time ago, and I am still here and both kids went to a great university, and DD is now in grad school after a 5 year gap following undergrad, and I am still here. THANKS CC and CC friends!</p>
<p>I have been here since 2005. The worm had applied to colleges before I discovered CC. It is the people, the wisdom, and the fun that keeps me around.</p>
<p>What Shellfell said. I’ve been around since before the “reset” so longer than it shows. Never found a more helpful, intelligent, balanced group.</p>
<p>You have advised me on Maui vacations, mental health, college visits, toilets, cancer, vacuums, wills, and everything in between.</p>
<p>Thank you all.</p>
<p>lovely thread, thanks Sax!</p>
<p>Like so many of you I came to educate myself about my first s’s college process…and boy did I learn…how to file for financial aid, how to locate colleges that offer merit aid…a year later when my d was applying I found support as my d underwent a biopsy as she left for college. I also learned how many of us have kids with ADD and other unique educational needs, found support and a new friend whose d went to the same college as mine. she held my hand those first few weeks… </p>
<p>now on my youngest’s journey on the eve of finding out about his ED school, I so appreciate all the knowledge, kindness and intelligence on these threads. honestly the energy and generosity of this site reminds me how big the world is, how many genuinely good souls there are which has been such a comfort to me, how fortunate I am as so many have challenges that one could never imagine. thank you all for creating this community…</p>
<p>sax, are you going somewhere?</p>
<p>I’m not. (Also came looking for info. for first kid, HS '06. Last kid will be HS '23, with 5 more in-between.)</p>
<p>I often find that I’m starting conversations with H or kids with, “I read on CC. . .” or "They were discussing ___ on CC. . . "
A lot of changes in my life since I got on CC–good times and bad. Glad that CC has always been in the background for interesting discussions with intelligent adults, a place to vent, get advice, share a few laughs, etc. I haven’t met any CCers irl, but I feel like I know some of you. (My kids call you “Mom’s imaginary friends.”)</p>
<p>Add my thanks. Came here Oct or Nov 2003. H teased me but now often asks me what CC says about lots of topics.</p>
<p>I stumbled upon CC while trying to leverage scholarship opportunities for NMF. I discovered the very important factor of college fit. I’m so thankful for the parents that gave advice and acted as sounding board. I try to pay back the favor to younger families. </p>
<p>Per household issues, such as appliance research … CC rocks. Many others seem to have early 1990s era homes. Consumer Reports is nice, but CC gives me the human perspective.</p>
<p>I discovered (stumbled upon) CC in 2003 when my D was beginning the college application process. This was before the site was first overhauled and I posted under another username (somehow, in the wake of the change, I wasn’t able to keep that name, so my post count in no way reflects how long I’ve been haunting the halls here). The wealth of information on offer to help guide us through what would otherwise have been a very frustrating process was so very much appreciated. From determining which school best matched her personal qualities and qualifications, to understanding how best to present herself, I feel I can safely say that, without the wealth of accurate and useful information presented on this site (all absolutely free!), there’s no way D would have found her perfect match. She graduated college in '08, but I find I can’t stay away entirely, even though there are now indeed periods in recent years when I’ve been scarce. I’ve found no other site that offers such a perennially intelligent and diverse membership, to say nothing of the warmth and wisdom served up daily in generous doses. I want to add my voice to those of the thankful.</p>
<p>I have found fellow CC’ers to be so analytical, experienced, articulate, generous and kind in helping me over the years. I have appreciated the quickness people have responded when I have concerns. I was educated about schools my children chose that I knew nothing about. Due Dilligence-- was so helpful to me when my second daughter was applying to Southern schools. The Parent Cafe is so real and I find we are all dealing with so many similar challenges. I have learned from so many of you. I have never met any of you in real life and I would love to at some point in time. I have been thinking about SunriseEast’s family so much these past few weeks, and hoping we might hear something from them, yet respecting their privacy and not wanting to bump the thread up. I want to thank all of you.</p>
<p>I began lurking in 2002 and should have quit after D received her ED acceptance in December of 2004. Instead I established a screen name and have gotten travel advice, kitchen remodel advice, followed the stories of LTS and sunriseeast, debated the talent on The Voice, etc. I love CC, particularly the community in the Cafe. Thanks to sax and others for giving voice to what so many of us feel about this virtual group of friends:)</p>
<p>I found cc 5 years ago when my oldest was a HS senior. Have stayed around for the advice, wisdom, laughter and sometimes tears that have been shared here. I am active on a class thread and consider the posters on that thread (and many others!) to be my friends.</p>
<p>My best piece of CC wisdom: The recipe for Matzah Brittle!!</p>
<p>I have been on here since 2005 and have stuck around to try to help others applying to Barnard and for the advice and camaraderie here on the Parent Cafe’ boards. I too have sweet memories of the LTS thread of Sunriseast. </p>
<p>I have found it to be enlightening because, while my views on many topics are VERY different than those held by many here (remember the politics boards??), we can still have discussions and help each other. I have a terrible time keeping screen names straight, but it helps in that I can never hold any sort of “bias” against a poster for past discussions in which we might have disagreed. It would be nice if that could happen in real life, right?</p>
<p>Been here since oldest was looking and she graduated high school in 2001. So well before that!</p>
<p>5 kiddos through CC!! Youngest is now 24, still have some in grad school (middle is getting his MD/MBA…2 years to go!)</p>
<p>Have CC to thank for so very much…</p>
<p>Kat</p>