So, I wake up a few hours ago, I reheat some coffee left over from this morning with there being nowhere near as much left over as I felt I needed for today, and I boot up my computer. I get online and start checking through my normal routine: email, another site, and of course Daily Kos. I always start with a look-over to see what the general happenings are, so I browse down the front page and then scroll back up to the top see what's on the rec' list. I don't remember exactly what, but something distracted me, so I left the page sitting there at the top. Once I finally returned my attention to Daily Kos, I noticed the subtle bar across the page under the main banner: "Good news!"
So, I'm sitting there thinking it was news about something good for the site and the Kos crew were just letting us know, and I try to click on it to see if whatever information it is will pop up, but it just sits there remaining all subtle. That makes me start going, "Well, what's the 'good news'?" The only way that I see to interact with this banner is to click an X to close it.
It was in staring at that X that realized the "subscribe" link wasn't there anymore. And then I looked at the top of the page and the banner advertisement was gone. I quickly scrolled the page and realized that I hadn't noticed when I did my front page browsing that none of the advertisements were there. I can't remember what I said, but I did exclaim something out-loud.
Someone gave me a gift subscription?? But who?? I pulled up my profile page, and sure enough that "Subscriber" icon is there under my mojo. After a bit, I remembered that the email address I have set for my membership here is different than my main email, so I logged into it and sure enough there it is: an email alerting me that an anonymous benefactor has purchased me a lifetime gift subscription, "Because [I am] awesome." Who thinks that I'm awesome, especially enough to spend that much money on me??
Seriously, who?? I know I read, rec', and comment a lot, but I've only written a few diaries; I'm hardly as communally active as others here. I've always been stand-offish thanks to my wonderous anxiety disorder(s), including online, despite the interactive safety provided by the anonymity of online forums. What with the activist nature that is a part of Daily Kos and the subjects that we discuss here, I have on occasion talked about some of the more painful details of my life. It can be unnerving sharing things like that because one never knows how others will react. But aside from those times, I haven't really put myself out there to be worthy of a gift subscription. And yet, there it is.
Daily Kos has allowed me to learn, both about current events -- this place is far better than what constitutes mainstream news media at alerting us to what all is going on in the USA and the rest of the world -- and about issues and perspectives I wouldn't have otherwise encountered. I've had moments where I've tried to encourage others, moments where they've tried to encourage me, and moments where I've been a total jackass. (I guess it's fitting that the ass is the symbol of the Democratic Party.)
So, to Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Dr., or E.T., Anonymous Benefactor, thank you. I was not expecting this. I totally don't want to click that X to close that "Good news!" banner. Happy Holidays to you and to everyone.