in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane

[bossymarmalade]

I am still sort of reeling (in a good way!) from all of the gloriously generous comments that people -- people I've known forever and love dearly, people I've never met who are gently connecting with me -- are leaving in my last post. What a tremendous affirmation of our voices and our community, and I am so honoured to have it in my space!

Which leads me to this: every time I sit down at the computer since I wrote that and think, "I can start responding now!", I look at all of these voices and all those little icons, and I end up re-reading and laughing and crying and just feeling overall wonderful. And then I put it off, because the minute I start responding, everything's going to go into collapsed threads!

sailorcoruscant said (somewhere on the tenth page): "It's taken a few days for me to realise I could (and probably should) come back and break radio silence to tell you that you (and your readers) have a beautiful voices. This growing chorus is a wonderful thing."

And I thought, yes, yesyesyes. And I realized I didn't want to collapse those beautiful voices.

So I'm going to hold myself back from answering, but oh man, I would have given all of you so much love. Wait, I can do that here!!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you all so very much. If there's anything you said in that post that you want a response to, just bring it up in the comments of this post and we'll natter away with no worries about collapsed threads. *g*

Comments

[moondancerdrake.livejournal.com]

HUGS! Enjoy the love!

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

hee! Thank you, and *hugs* right back atcha!

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

God, so many voices. That's the thrust, is that some people just want to deny the chorus, the honesty and love and hope of people's words and voices raised in harmony (not *unity*, because they are NOT ALL THE SAME). They think that if they could drowned it out, then they're word becomes truth, becomes law. But the only law is those of our hearts, and by letting all those beautiful voices go on singing, you give them new fire, new hope. Renewed, I hope the voices go on singing until things change.

Thank you, for both your solo and your voice in the choir. Each one is precious.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

*draws hearts around your comment*

The doublespeak, disinformation, and refusal to stand by their own words (http://thingswithwings.livejournal.com/57068.html) is boggling, isn't it? I'm as thrilled as you are to find a harmony of truth rising above that cacophony, and you say it just beautifully. Much love to you, sugarplum!

[indirajames.livejournal.com]

I'll have you know I offered you a one-time opportunity to own your very own timeshare! That you just ignored that is unforgivable.

<3333333

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

Dear friend, please! Give me another chance to get in on exotic vacations at deep, deep discounts!!!

(I don't need to tell you that this is all in a Zoidberg voice. hee!)

[indirajames.livejournal.com]

Now Zoidberg is the popular one! :D

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

Your sparklehearts are making my friendslist SO PRETTY!

♥

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

Aren't they amazing?!?! You probably totally know how to do this stuff already b/c you are smart about computers, but I just found out today and am very excited! And I didn't even write the code myself, I just used this generator (http://misc.inexistent.org/sparkle/), ahahhahaa!

*mwah*

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I totally use the sparklegenerators too. They are easy and quick, and it is lovely. *MWAH!*

[were-duck.livejournal.com]

I just want to leave you more love! Your words are so inspiring and spot-on and perfect, thank you thank you thank you a thousand times! (no response necessary, just wanted to say that again)

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

You are so welcome, and I'm so happy I was able to write something that touched so many people!!

[itsbeenvery.livejournal.com]

BEST USE OF GLITTER HEARTS.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

ahahaha! Is there ever a *bad* use for glitter hearts?!?

[loveflyfree.livejournal.com]

you are brilliant AND link to an awesome sparklegenerator? oh how are you even real? :D

(in all seriousness your last post was so beautiful and perfect. *mwah!*)

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

I'm a uuuuuuuuuunicorn! (I always imagine that like in "The Last Unicorn", how that skeleton starts screeching it, hee!) Also there is no Snape riding me, thank goodness. I think it's safe to say that I'm more like Charlie. (Wait, is Charlie *even* a unicorn? Is he just a horse? I need to go rewatch and remind myself!!)

And thank you heaps and bundles, bb. *mwah*!

[beachlass.livejournal.com]

So I think you won the internet yesterday. :)

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

DUDE. I am still flabbergasted at the number of comments that post got; I go look at it and feel instantly happier! Yay!!

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

You are too cute. :)

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

ahahah! It's the sparkly rainbow glitter; that makes anybody cute. *g*

[cunningplan.livejournal.com]

i know i haven't been commenting on your posts - usually by the time i read them there are dozens (if not hundreds) of comments, and i don't really have anything to add. i just wanted to let you know that i've been reading all of them and i always find your posts well-written and thought-provoking. i'm glad i know you, if only peripherally <3

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

awwwww, thank you so much! So many people who don't generally talk about this stuff on lj (for whatever reasons) have been making little notes over the past few months, and I appreciate that enormously. Thank you again!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

I'm still in awe at how quickly you crafted those words of sheer beauty in response to that hurtful statement.

And I'm so glad you are enjoying our reactions because you deserve joy--you've given so much to this community with your brilliance.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

I swear, I was reading EBear's post and getting increasingly enraged and then at one point something in me just went flip! and I thought, "okay, I need this out of my life, because it's making me wretched. Good-bye, Elizabeth Bear." I'm still amazed that so many people found what I said to be useful for them as well! I guess many of us were at that breaking point too.

Thank you so much for this, and for being -- okay, you know when you click on one of the new Rydra-links, and you see certain people's names in the comments, and you kind of breathe a sigh of relief? You're one of those people for me. *mwah*!

[noseyroser.livejournal.com]

I didn't comment before, just friended you, (hello!) but now I just wanted to say how moving and just right that last post was. Thank you for making it. This whole imbroglio of fail has made me sit down and actually be aware of how privilege affects my life and how I can better be an ally.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I wrote it to settle my own sick feeling, and I am so grateful and honoured to find that it resonated with other people.

And hello! *g*

[dine.livejournal.com]

and as a bonus reason for adoration, you provided me with a sparkle generator, to enliven LJ

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

ahahahah! I LOVE THIS ONE YOU'VE CHOSEN. Scrolling pink hearts!! I adore you so much too, Dine!

*multiple kisses*

[bookshop.livejournal.com]

hi hi! this is just a 'why i friended you' comment, not in response to the other post. (although i assume by now you've seen this (http://stoneself.livejournal.com/1335944.html?style=mine), which i cannot stop linking EVERYONE to because i think it just sums up so eloquently the notorious "tone" behind this entire debate, as well as the intent of everyone involved.)

but why i really friended you is because while linksurfing i found my way to the remyth project and read your remyths, and i thought that you had such a beautiful and compelling way of writing about your past and your culture, and i just had to say thank you for that.

also there might be the fact that on the internet and off, whenever i talk about fanart and why i think that as a group fanartists are the most gracious and loving body of fans in existence, the first person i mention, every single time, is glockgal. i just have an embarrassing amount of love, respect, and admiration for that girl, so much so that it apparently spills over to apply to her whole family. ♥ so, yeah. hi, I'm Aja! Will be reading your journal now, commenting sporadically, probably lurking mostly, but always enjoying. <3

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

eeeeeee! Any comment that says such wonderful things about my beloved sister fills me with glee right off the bat. *g*

And thank you so much for the support and feedback; I am enormously glad that you liked my remyth pieces and the "sees fire" post and am happy that you friended! I look forward to getting to know you better!

(Also the Avatar teashop scroll art for Yuletart, ahahahah! I went back to answer feedback and was all "HEY I KNOW MOST OF THESE PEOPLE NOW, SWEET!" Fandom works in such funny cyclical ways. *g*)

[parlance.livejournal.com]

I don't think I thanked you for writing that post, so thank you! And I made it my roundup a couple of days ago. :->

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

You are so welcome, and thank *you* for linking it! I am thrilled that people are connecting with it!

[chootoy.livejournal.com]

you're the Ron Burgundy to my Brick Tamland

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

ahahahah OMG ICON. That's hilarious!

And we make beautiful melodies together, bb. *mwah*!

[kadymae.livejournal.com]

Dearest Maggie,

I have known you online since you were a teen writing ROFL funny comments on the GEEB list.

And I've said it before and I'll say it again -- please never change except to become more funny and more awesome.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

Oh, Kate! It's so strange (and often cringe-worthy) to think of all the dumbass things I said when I first hopped on the internets, so this comment makes me absolutely wriggly with glee. Hee! I am so glad we are still in each other's space, full of support and snark and hi-larity. *mwah*!

[thissugarcane.livejournal.com]

I meant to say in that post, dependent on what goes on for my project, you are most definitely going in, babe. I mean pursuant to your consent and with the intent of using your own voice to speak through me, narrative quality, blah blah blah. :)

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

HUZZAH! I would love that, and am totally looking forward to it. *g*

[thissugarcane.livejournal.com]

I like that you know what my "blah blah blah" stands for. *g* I'm intending to interview you and Lori together, fyi, unless you guys have a reason that doesn't work? I figured just since you're both in Vancouver that it'd work for my geography, but it's your voice(s) so it's your call. :D

[marej.livejournal.com]

for the record, Lori's post about you nearly killed mere and me with OMGDIEOFCUTE. I don't even know how to tell her you posted a SPARKLY post. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU MAGGIE??

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

ahahahahahah I KNOW RIGHT

Who ever thought that a time would come when the best way to express my feelings was in sparkles and hearts?!?

[powrhug.livejournal.com]

I didn't recognize the user name when we were "talking" in Donna's post...you've changed since I knew you last. =)

Congratulations, Maggie, on one of the most beautiful posts I've read in the saga tonight as I played catch-up. I wish all I've read were like yours.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

*g* It is a recent but much-needed change. Thank goodness for rename tokens, heh!

And thank you so much for the kind words; I am still glowing with joy over how many people found something in my post that touched them. It's amazing and I am so honoured.

[kiezh.livejournal.com]

Sparkly hearts right back at you!

I love the choral metaphor - I'm a singer and a sucker for harmony, so it definitely speaks to me. Also, this is what I wrote on my delicious tag for your "sees fire" post (and btw, I love that title, both in itself and as commentary on Bear's):

"She's got a voice. And oh, can she make it sing."

Thanks for singing, and giving everyone a chance to harmonize. :D

[supermouse.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry. I added to the chorus, but I also asked if I could friend you. I looked about at your other posts in hopefully a non-stalkerish way and thought you all kinds of awesome.

My own livejournal is not actually very interesting.

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

Hee! No worries, and I don't mind being friended at all! Welcome!

[supermouse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Done.

The reason I ask first is so I don't pop up with a comment on a later public post and have you wondering where the hell I came from. Given the whole imbroglio, it seems wisest to be careful.