February 3, 1999Hi all you Acme Friends!
First, let me apologize for the group e-mail, but time is of the essence here. I have hidden names and addresses of the group to protect your privacy, but this e-mail is going out to 73 Acme posters. If you are concerned that someone might have been missed, please e-mail me and I will tell you if they were included in this mailing.
There has been a lot of sadness on the board lately. Jeff & Diane, who have lost 3 beloved cats within the last 13 months, are especially hurting. As you know they have been dealing with non-stop terminal illness for well over a year, and have yet to really recover from the sudden and terrible loss of Mr. Fluffy. They are exhausted, reeling from a terrible series of losses and hurting beyond comprehension. They have few people within their own families or co-workers who really comprehend the loss of a pet and the depth of their despair. Not like we do.
Lisaviolet, Fran, Tik Tok and I have been thinking that its time to do something together as a family, something to give them hope and to let them know that they are not alone. It’s time for another Acme "flight". We are planning a special group (((((hug)))) from all their friends at Acme. If you wish to join in, please forward pictures of yourself and your furbabies, a special card, a home made doo-dad, cat trinkets of any kind, a stuffed animal, a poem, any special writing or artwork, or whatever else you wish, to the snail mail address I will forward to you. When they are all in, I will gift wrap your parcels and put them and your cards all in one box and send it from all their friends at Acme. It will be shipped to them as close to Valentine’s Day as possible. If you would like to participate, please respond to this e-mail as soon as possible. I will forward details of the snail mail address to send your Hug to. Your cards and parcels will NOT be opened, so anything you send will remain confidential and between you, Jeff and Diane. I will merely wrap the outer wrappings to make it look more festive.
This has to happen quickly. Valentine’s Day is 11 days from today, and Tik Tok would like to point out that the Chinese New Year (The year of the Bunny) begins on February 16. If we could get the package to them by that date, it would be like starting a New Year with a lot of hope and love and one giant Valentine. I’m thinking your package or card will have to be received here in Los Angeles no later than Friday, February 12 if I am to 2nd day air it out to them so it can be received between the 14th and 16th.
I cannot stress enough how essential it is that this be a total surprise to Jeff & Diane. You must not mention it on either the Cat’s Window or the Cat Health Boards, or in any direct correspondence you may have with Di. That would completely ruin the effect. They absolutely CANNOT know this is coming!!!!
We have decided that our virtual "voyage" is going to be aboard a train. We are going to discuss details in code. Your RSVP’s will be reservations, and receipt of your card or package will be a valentine. We are undecided about whether or not to use the Community board at Acme as a place for updates, or to set up a separate message board. I’m not sure what would be most convenient and most spontaneous and also less risk of Di catching on. Give us your feedback, and we’ll e-mail you the location when it’s finalized.
If you are sending a gift, please keep it LIGHTWEIGHT or the train may not be able to leave Grand Central Station and we may have to ship it on a slow boat!
The party is going to be up to you guys. You are allowed to be as silly as you wish.
Any of you who do not wish to participate, this is the only e-mail you will receive. I will delete all non-responding e-mail addy’s from future correspondence so as not to bother anyone who is not interested.
I think this will be a lift of spirits that Jeff & Diane very desperately need. We thank all of you who wish to participate in sending your love. I think of this "train" as the little engine that could. Could really make a difference the lives of two people who have given so much of themselves to others, and who are suffering a hurt that is beyond what most of us can imagine. Believe me, your spirits will be uplifted too.
Thanks from the bottom of our "Hearts"
Tally
Lisaviolet,
Fran,
Tik Tok
February 4, 1999Directions to Grand Central Station - e-mailed from Tally
Well, I think our Passenger list is almost complete. We currently have 63 reservations for the HeartsABoard Express! This is going to be some train ride. Jeff & Diane are going to get their socks knocked off!!! Send your cards and packages to: XXXXXXXXXXX
Make sure you mark your "Board" name on the outside of the package or envelope so I can send you a travel confirmation.
Now, many of you are putting together some very special gifts, and we don't want to short change anyone on time here. I think I'm going to push the deadline back a couple of days to give people a little more time. So if you want to get them a little something to think of you by, go ahead. It won't be the end of the world if the package goes out a little later. There's really no time frame for sending a Valentine! Let's try for Feb 16 so they can have the package by Friday, Feb 19th. The train won't leave without any of you. Better to have everyone on board with their precious cargo than to rush it and short change your hug! If we don't get the last straggler in by the 16th, we'll send the package out on the 22nd. The sooner the better, but no one gets left behind!
Lisaviolet and Tik Tok are working on setting up a private message board for us to converse on. Di will never know! They are putting together some special graphics and stuff so that this board can become a permanent website for Jeff & Di and any of us to come back and visit. We will mail you the URL as soon as it is ready. Then we're all going to post so you can all see the "Mystery Passengers" who will be travelling with you.
In the meantime, find whatever trinket, token, poetry, art, craft or card best expresses your individual *hug* and get it in the mail as soon as you can. Di cherishes treasures. She and Jeff are going to cherish these with all their hearts.
Try to keep it light if you can, or this train may never get out of the Roundhouse! LOL. And remember, the baggage handlers at the Station aren't going to do any special packing, so if your gift is fragile, please pack it well!
The HeartsABoard Express is in the station. She's ready. She's waiting.
OK, Let's get this train rollin'......
Whoooo! Whooooooooooooo!
And so it began.....
The Club Car is now open! Let the party begin......msg - The Engineer 20:05:02 2/8/1999 (3)The Club Car is open! Thanks to LV for this adorable private Club Car for us to have our private party in.
We have 85 RSVP's getting ready to board the train. 27 are already on a plane out to make connections at the Station. And we have already received our first passenger! (This is so exciting). Where are y'all coming from I wonder? What part of the country?
Mr. Tally, the Porter, is quite amazed at what is happening here. He will be responsible for sorting the incoming baggage and placing it in the special Baggage car, which has been reserved for this trip. Don't worry, he'll get a lot of personal supervision from moi and the 9 little tails!
Now, those of you who want to identify yourselves, (if some of you just want to lurk that's OK too) step right up to the bar and make your presence known. Kitties are also very welcome here. Order a drink, kick your shoes off, let your hair down and rest a while in the VIP Club Car while we make our final preparations...
