Teppy, my first impression of you was about how self-possessed you seemed. You came across as cool and witty, in a sexy way. The opposite of dorky, actually.

Right? Five and a half years. Back when Emmett was still Darth Tigger and Buffistas were still at Table Talk.

Aye, caramba! I've known you people forever. And my life's been a freakin' roller coaster over the last five years too. I don't know whether to thank the Buffistas for their support, or blame them for their clearly unsettling effect.

I've known you, Tep, since you really were a vanilla, church going gal.

Knew Erin before she was a teacher.

Knew Fay when she lived in England and before she was a teacher.

Knew Ple before she had Lilybean.

Knew amych before she took up fencing, when she was single and working at the bookstore.

Knew Holli and SA and Lizard when they were still in high school.

Hec, You talked faster and at a higher pitch than I expected but your wicked but kind smile is just what I thought it would be. You also have a wonderful positive energy in person that is a pleasure to be around.

I don't know whether to thank the Buffistas for their support

Hey, without the Buffistas, you wouldn't have your lovely wife or Gruntalina the homebaby. I'd say big thanks. Like, you should send us all chocolate.

W/o the Buffistas, Nora and Tom wouldn't be married, either.

ND and Kristen wouldn't be living together. K. might still be in Conn, ita might still be in Michigan. Juliana might still be...um, not in SF.

I would never have been to Chi or LA.

LOTS of other things would never have happened!

Erin, alas, I have yet to meet you IRL.

Teppy, my first impression of you was about how self-possessed you seemed.

This is very much what I was about to say. You also seemed like you'd be easy to be around.

Hec, I was impressed by just how animated you were. That, and a killer sense of style. Very cool, and yet approachable.

(I have to admit, I'm also curious to know people's first impressions about me, especially if they were different from what you'd assumed from online interactions)

Scary thought, all those things that might not have happened. I'm still waiting for a first impression of Erin; looking forward to it immensely. Teppy amazed me with her sense of style from the first time I saw her at the SF airport. I need to take her shopping with me.

Hec, You talked faster and at a higher pitch than I expected

My fast talking ways are usually the first impression people have of me.

but your wicked but kind smile is just what I thought it would be. You also have a wonderful positive energy in person that is a pleasure to be around.

I felt instantly at ease with you and Jason. You have that thing that Laura has of just radiating warmth. Amazing smile, always cool hair. You have a very earthy sexuality that comes through. You might as well be wearing a t-shirt that says, "Scrappy Really Enjoys Sex." Witty and playful in conversation. Dag! Now I'm missing you.

ND and Kristen wouldn't be living together. K. might still be in Conn.

The horror!

Oh wait, you mean if I hadn't moved.

t runs away

I find it impossible to separate people's identities from their voices now. And I love that I can hear the way someone would say something, too.

Knew Holli and SA and Lizard when they were still in high school.

So scary to think. I was buff diving the other day and came across a COMM of me and Holli talking amongst our insomnia back in high school. Them was the days. Days I'd never go back to in a million years.