From: it dosent matter<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

terry<BR>
  <BR>
          all i can say is im floored  positivly floored  my hats off to ya im near speechless  floored on all aspects of* big girls dont cry*  floored    damn i got a case of green envy for that
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From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

<BR>
<BR>
Terry......what you did!<BR>
<BR>
I am floored by the quality and intensity of Big girls---and the art.....my god.......<BR>
<BR>
But I am also caught by the moment and the message...all women have "scares"...some real, some nothing. And there is nothing more hurtful, or hateful that a man can say to a pregnant woman than "Not mine." You might be thinking you're not ready----that the lady has pulled a fast one....<BR>
but what you say with those two small words is "Look slut----this is your problem.....like I would make a baby with a skank like you..."  Just rip her heart out, okay?<BR>
<BR>
As a society, we truly suck when it comes to pregnancy. On one hand, we accord pregnant women special status....we throw them showers, offer them our seats...(those of us with manners, that is). But how we feel about a pregnancy might depend on which end ot it we're on. When it's a friend that we know desperately wished for such a thing, we're happy. But otherwise, we tend to be cynical.<BR>
<BR>
Yes.......women have "trapped" men with babies...but in my lifetime, I have known far more men who skipped out on their kids...as if ending the relationship with the mother somehow made a non-child of their kid. And this is not male bashing...so for the decent guys who would never consider such a thing, i'm not talking about you.<BR>
<BR>
I'm talking about the real neandrathals....dragging their knuckles, who somehow miss the point that sex makes babies---sometimes no matter what. Birth control failure is devastating for a woman. "I'm pregnant" is so hard to say....<BR>
<BR>
When I was trying to have a child, I had months when my cycle devastated me....I wanted a baby so much....and Chuck and I had planned for it, waited.....and yet....when I found out I finally had gotten pregnant---I still had a moment of cold dread. I spent too much of my life avoiding that state...deliberately doing it-----whoa...that was hard.<BR>
<BR>
And just speaking for myself, I was scared. I knew my husband wouldn't leave me...but I wondered how it would change me---so guys....please, for Auntie Gala----before you ever say something like "Who's is it?" think real hard.<BR>
You'll kill her heart, and flatten her utterly...and if you have even the faintest intention of keeping her in your life, I promise you will pay for that comment for the rest of your days. No matter how much you may love her, there will always be a part of her heart that will never forgive you.<BR>
<BR>
                                           Love <BR>
<BR>
                                           Gala
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From: B.K. <BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

Gala: WOW, I haven't even tuned into the fine print written by Terry yet but AMEN SISTER GALA. This Sunday Morning, A Very Big AMEN!!!<BR>
<BR>
bk
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Date: 8 October 2000<P>

Terry: Your work of art/poetry is incredible. BRAVO! Would you consider being cloned please? I think the world could use lots more of you! 
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From: slug<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

mira: your face is great. just the right mixture of whimsy and admiration. good job. 
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From: slug<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

terry: i didn't want to say anything - your poem hitting too close to home for me to know quite what to say - but it's beautiful, and it's true.<BR>
<BR>
and from someone who never got the chance to tell him she was pregnant (long story), Gala is right on. Too many men skip out on what is their own doing (partially their own, but they WERE involved) and it's sick. and it's good that someone has the guts to talk about it. i know i sure don't.
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From: terry (blushing furiously)<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

I thought hard before I posted 'Big Girls'. I don't do much posting about the darker sides of love. And this topic is about as dark as it gets for a woman's heart when she is in love. I did the drawing first, and it inspired the words, because it had an overwhelmingly sad feel to me that I wanted to try and capture. <BR>
<BR>
I had a good friend who went through the situation. I knew it was not a topic I could even understand 'that way' as a male. So I gave her a voice as I wrote and let her speak. The result is not meant to cause anyone harm in any way. So I am really sorry if it struck too close to home that way slug. (Or anyone else for that matter. I hate to cause a moment of pain for anyone.) I guess I just got a valuable lesson about how someone's concept of supposed 'Art' has the power to effect others.<BR>
<BR>
And again, it doesn't matter and Gala, and everyone else...thank you for the support.<BR>
<BR>
terry
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From: Michael (whew)<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

Terry ~ "Big girls don't cry"..As straight to the heart as anything could be. Very real. Very beautiful. It doesn't get any better.
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From: lydia wilson<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

i wish i had time to come a write, but ack, time only allows none, but i do come in and read when i need some uplifting, thank you laurel for shine... .<BR>
ill try to type something for your enjoyment soon, until then<BR>
suga<BR>
lydia
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From: Kirk, Blender-Keeper<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

Ok, I'm back-<BR>
Heh, Devin, looks like your attempt at "name dropping" about  the time we spent in Heidelberg didn't make much of a splash... ah well.  <BR>
<BR>
As for tearjerker movies: "The English Patient".  Also more recently "the Green Mile", though that wasn't romantic, andactually irritated me with how shamelessly it went to twang people's heartstrings.
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From: Kare Bare<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

Hey people!<BR>
<BR>
**laurel**Yes there are several of us that feel very sad with the lose of Brandon.  I think that your poem said everything that needs to be said and that everyone should think about.  you are a great writer and you should never give it up.<BR>
<BR>
Kare Bare
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From: The Frosted One<BR>
Date: 8 October 2000<P>

Hey everyone<BR>
<BR>
Terry and Dee: Thanks for emailing me. It help a lot. I really appericate your kindness. Your heartfelt words mean a lot to me. <BR>
<BR>
Kare Bare: Thanks for letting me lean on you through this tragdy in my life. <BR>
<BR>
Laurel: "Shine" was beautiful. I know if everyone who was affected by Brandon's untimely death would thank you. Thank you.<BR>
<BR>
Always <BR>
The Frosted One
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