I have been a reader since 2016, and posted I've posted a few responses since I joined this year.

[cksmithy]

I learned about du after the 2016 election. I have loved reading all the posts, I agree with almost everything I have read. I guess this is my first original post. So to introduce myself, I was born in 1951, I am a 72 years old women, my father had major shell shock, ptsd from ww2, which he took out on his children. I really can't stand what is going on in Ukraine and the US. I grew up with the threat (in my father's imagination, (somewhere I have a pamphlet of what to do in case of nuclear attack)) of communists coming over our hill, which is connected to Hwy 101, in California, 13 miles from Fort Ord, CA. I am so sad and angry about what is happening to Ukraine. I feel it. I read a story about a 91 year old Leningrad survivor who is in Ukraine, and how difficult her life is. I, too, worry about my grandchildren and children living in this world and the world that is to come. I can only hope it will be ok. It feels like it is happening right now, to everyone. I am no longer on the California coast, though, I sure wish I was, the weather is wonderful and the country side and foothills, where I grew up, are so beautiful.

[applegrove]

1. And welcome to the DU.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. We are glad you are here.

[Glorfindel]

3. Welcome, cksmithy

Glad to have you aboard.

[cksmithy]

6. Thank you to all have responded.

This is the only forum? i have ever joined and posted in, I am not sure of the etiquette or rules. No facebook or Instagram.

[momta]

48. I think you demonstrated excellent etiquette in your OP.

As for rules, well, there are some, but they basically boil down to "don't be a rude idiot."

I don't have Instagram either. I check facebook once a month or so, but it's pretty toxic, so if you're not there now, don't bother.

Welcome to the conversation.

[Deuxcents]

4. Welcome

In 2016, I, too, read the posts here for a while but I soon added my deuxcents and have learned so much on many topics. I’m 75 as of last month n a grandmother to three great kids..all getting older n ready to start their own lives. I’m worried to death about the world we are leaving them...not only with this going on in Ukraine but environmentally n economically n politically. I hope you feel at home here..it’s a great place to be.

[blm]

5. Safe and sane at DU.

🙂

[SheltieLover]

7. Welcome to DU!

[femmedem]

8. Welcome!

I'm looking forward to hearing more from you.

[electric_blue68]

9. Welcome. Joined in mid '18. Great place, good people.

And heh, try living (it is a often wonderful place) in the #2 target in the The USA back in '59 onward. NYC.

[niyad]

11. Or right next door to NORAD.

[electric_blue68]

13. Ha! Well, there's THAT, then, too! 😄 (Eeeeeek)

[niyad]

10. Welcome to our DU family officially. Glad you came in from the cold.

I loved the Ft. Ord area when my father was stationed there. Now, according to an article here on DU recently, it is more of a toxic waste dump.

DU helps many of us stay at least somewhat sane in these truly insane times.

[Hekate]

12. Welcome to DU, cksmithy

🌻🌻🌻🌻. Here’s to better days 🌻🌻🌻🌻

[KS Toronado]

14. Welcome to DU, hope to hear more from you

[Magoo48]

15. Welcome to DU fellow California native.

[BigmanPigman]

16. I always get my news from DU since I discovered this site.

I'm glad you're posting.

[Totally Tunsie]

17. Welcome, and enjoy DU!

The more, the merrier.

[lamp_shade]

18. Welcome aboard cksmithy. Glad to meet you.

I joined DU in '03; have since come here every day and, dawn to dusk, DU is my refuge.

[PatrickforB]

19. Well, welcome to posting on the forums here, since you've been a reader since '16.

The more dialogue we have, the better - I have learned a lot from fellow DUers, for sure.

[MLAA]

20. Welcome Aboard!

[Aristus]

21. Welcome to DU!

[justhanginon]

22. Welcome. Looking forward to more of your posts.

[calimary]

23. Welcome to DU, cksmithy!

Glad you’re here, and that you decided to weigh in!

DU has been a lifeline for me, at times. During the rise of Pox Noise, bush2, and trump, especially! I’ve learned so much from the people here, and I’m a lot smarter on the issues and the personalities because of the writing, reporting, and perspectives posted here.

[cksmithy]

24. Thank you for the warm welcome.

The wind and fog would blow up the little canyon I lived in and my friends in town (Salinas) would get home before me to have a little sunshine before the wind and fog would set in. I lived in the country, 45 min. or more by bus ride before I got home after high school. Thank you for Welcoming me. I now live in the Central Valley, in California, wish I was still on the coast.

[FailureToCommunicate]

27. Yes, Welcome to DU! I imagine the Central Valley-cowboy country - feels VERY

different than the Coast!

We were just out a few years ago visiting from Jack London's wine country (before the terrible fires) then down to old haunts around Carmel and Big Sur. Just a magical land.

But, yes, so many of us are heart sick about the war in Ukrane, and reawakened memories of fears of the Cold War days, hiding under our desks, making no long term life plans...

[multigraincracker]

25. Nice to have ya.

Great to have a place where birds of a feather can flock together. If we fly high enough, we can poop on the world...

[Warpy]

26. I'm in the "duck and cover" generation, too

and we're all spooked by this one.

[xxqqqzme]

28. Welcome to DU.

I'm a neighbor to the south on the coast. Just celebrated my 20th DU-anniversary. I wish I could leave this impossibly high rent area but I'm a weather wuss.
It is a little windy in the OC today but the temperature is 71 and not a cloud in the sky. As you know we need some rain but the Sierra snow pack is a little assist this year.

You will enjoy it here at DU.

[xxqqqzme]

29. Welcome to DU.

I'm a neighbor to the south on the coast. Just celebrated my 20th DU-anniversary. I wish I could leave this impossibly high rent area but I'm a weather wuss.
It is a little windy in the OC today but the temperature is 71 and not a cloud in the sky. As you know we need some rain but the Sierra snow pack is a little assist this year.

You will enjoy it here at DU.

[irisblue]

30. Nice to meet you Sister Woman

[Meowmee]

31. Welcome 😀

I remember having to get down under our desks with elbows over our heads. I joined in 2016 when I came to read a post about dump’s evil press person, the night before the election.

I have come to believe we will all be nuked or subjected to fascism at some point. Too many people are just to stupid and hateful. If nuked we will mostly die. Hopefully the better among us will survive if any do.

[Evolve Dammit]

32. Welcome ck. I too worry about our children living in this world and the world that is to come.

Welcome!

[Backseat Driver]

33. Welcome to DU! n/t

[usonian]

34. Hang in there!!

I am 73, living in the foothills, probably near you (near, in CA, can be many miles!)

I grew up having nightmares over the Cuban Missile crisis, and lived quite a few years in Sunnyvale, close to the "Blue Cube" which was Onizuka Air Force Base, basically satellite command, and target #1 for Soviet missiles.

All that said, I have just begun to fight! My resource page for the Fall 2022 campaign is here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216380145

And I invite all to contribute links to action items.

I have also belatedly started a page for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16468885

At my age, It's not about me!, It's what I can do to make this world better while I am still around.

You have friends here.
We care about others.

[Mr. Evil]

35. cksmithy, I so feel what you said.

I'll be 62 in about 3 weeks and my father also served in WWII. He was a part of Patton's 3rd Army '44-'45. He didn't really show any PTSD but, he did have his issues.

This is an expansive website and I'm still learning to navigate it while trying to adhere to its protocols. And I've been here since 2013. It can be daunting at times but, you'll get there. There are so many nice and knowledgeable people here. I think that's a major reason DU is so unique.

Welcome to DU and enjoy your stay!

[Danmel]

49. My dad was liberated from the Plattling death camp

By Patton's Third Army. Grateful to your dad and all WWII
Veterans. I literally would not be here without them.

[Mr. Evil]

53. Thanx!

And very glad you made it out of that hell.

[chia]

36. Welcome! I've read DU off and on since 2002 but didn't join until 2017. Still don't post a lot, but

boy have I learned a lot from reading! I too love the CA coast, live in SoCal but have been all up and down the coast from Crescent City to Imperial Beach. Love this state. I grew up with a mom who thought like your dad, and wonder what she would think, if she were still here, about the Putin-worshipping fascist GOP of today. I really don't want to know whether she would disavow them or make apologies for them. Best that I'll never know.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

37. I'm older by 2 years and just expressed my age as the only positive I take from the news

I'm a 101 gal myself. Grew up in the SF Valley. Hid under the desk at the sound of the siren at Van Nuys High.

Those were the good old days, I guess.

Welcome aboard. Huddling among friends and sharing info, good and bad, makes me feel patriotic.

[cksmithy]

41. Bay of Pigs

Our entire school K-8, 30 kids in a class, two classrooms per grade level, went outside and waited in line to get on the buses. Since it was the country, only a few kids walked home. The principal on the loud speaker, said it was ok, and we went back to our classrooms. My husband doesn't really get it. He grew up in Ohio. Also, my school and my house was literally on the San Andres Fault line, I can't ever remember not having duck and cover drills. House swaying, baby buggy rolling across the floor. As you said, the good old days.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

42. I guess another earthquake is around the corner.

We try to stay prepared. As it is, I consider that we live "near the sea's breeze". Or so it says on my Twitter handle.

[Boomerproud]

44. You probably already know this but Robert Redford is a fellow

alum of Van Nuys High. He played 1st base on the baseball team. Just a tiny distraction in these frightening times.

[Joinfortmill]

38. Thank you for sharing

[Hortensis]

39. :) Welcome to chat, Cksmithy. Remember, tho, it's NOT happening now to everyone.

Most people around the planet are doing just fine. And it's spring wherever you are.

[a kennedy]

40. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ welcome.

and a DU

[PittBlue]

43. Welcome to DU!

It is a life saver!❤✌

[Boomerproud]

45. Welcome. DU can be a great place for news and meeting new friends.

[spanone]

46. Welcome to DU cksmithy!

Born in '51 myself.

[kpete]

47. I was born in 1951 too!

Important post - Remembering the fog & consequences of war

thanks & peace,
kp

[Danmel]

50. Welcome cksmithy!

I joined in 2004 after the election because I was ready to go full fetal. Ended up joining my local Democratic committee, and working for a Democratic elected official since 2006.

[nolabear]

51. Glad you joined those who post. I look forward to seeing more.

[MiHale]

52. Hi there!...

Welcome to DU.




1952 here

[kellytore]

54. I have been a member since 2009

and as I you can tell I do not post often. I feel as though DU is my home and it brings me comfort in knowing I am not alone in my beliefs.

[NBachers]

55. This 1949 baby welcomes you. I drove up Highway One from Monterey to San Francisco

a few weeks back, so I passed right through your home territory. I will be heading out to Golden Gate Park and the seashore in a few minutes, and will think of you.

I am glad you are here!

[flying_wahini]

56. Great to hear from you! Now keep it up.