Hi, I'm Tom Scola.

When I was growing up, my father was prone to fits of rage, and I was subjected to frequent verbal abuse. My mother was at best indifferent, and never did much to protect me. In school, I was a nerd who had trouble fitting in.

As I reached adulthood, my difficulty fitting in had blossomed into a full-fledged version of Avoidant Personality Disorder, I was extremely shy, and had a crippling inability to form and maintain relationships.

I posted in the first TableTalk thread, in 1999. Just once. Eventually, I posted a little more. In February 2001, I attended a gathering of NYC Buffistas: Jesse, msbelle, Trudy Booth, Jessica, megan walker, and Fiona P were there, along with several other former Buffistas. There were several other NYCista gatherings that year. In 2002 I attended the Chicago F2F.

I've been in analysis for almost the whole time. I've made a lot of progress, but I still have a way to go. I still have bouts of self loathing, and I still have a tendency to want to hide away sometimes.

I started delurking in 1999, but it's still an ongoing process for me. I know I'm getting better because I now have friends all over the world. Friends who are cool, accepting, funny, wicked smart, and just so fucking awesome. Thank you for being my friends.

Oh, and olives suck.

It was so good to see you the other night, Tom.

I feel like there should be more, but that really says it, I think.

See, and the ironic thing here is that encountering Tom Scola invariably cranks up my shyness to eleven, because he is so awesome.

sighs

Stupid world.

(Luckily this is not the case with most other Buffista lasses, as the epic snogfest at the last F2F will attest)

Oh, and olives suck.

*hugsTomtightly*

Tom thank you for posting! Your post actually makes me feel a lot better about my fits and starts in other threads. I will hang in because I suspect it gets easier and the rewards are great.

The month is coming to an end and I will miss this thread. Though I like the annual nature of it. I will, at least, be here next year.

Tom Scola IS totally made of awesome.

And it would be great if you and other lurkers who delurked for this thread would poke your noses in other threads whenever possible, ehab.

Tom Scola IS totally made of awesome.

Except for the olive hate.

Tom Scola IS totally made of awesome.

Except for the olive hate.

I see no issue with this. If anything, it enhances Tom's awesomeness.

Tom only hates olives because it means those of us who love them get more.

He is awesome like that.

Tom is so awesome that if I didn't hate olives already, I'd convert for him.