[Wondergirl]

First published: 21 Mar

AMHD has been a part of my life for four years now. Wait….four years?….doing the math. Yup, it's been four years. Where did the time go? It feels like it was just yesterday.

I love this site. I've tried to leave, but the people on this site, the friends I've made, the way this site handles questions, the fact that accuracy and compassion are always the most important things–I haven't found that anywhere else on the internet. Trust me, I've looked. Nothing comes close to this site, this community.

My specialty is rabbits, and I've spent years studying these little animals. AMHD actually values my expertise, and I've met many wonderful people with expertise of their own. I've learned a lot from them, and I hope they've learned things from me.

I was also raised with birds, guinea pigs, dogs, hamsters, you name it. Being able to share my knowledge with people, and learn things from other experts, is amazing. I really think that we're making a difference, that we're educating people on the animals they have in their lives. I wish we had had a forum like this when I was younger. Back then you had to be hands on and learn the hard way. Now you simply have to go to AMHD, ask your question, and I know that there will be an expert there with the info you need. It's truly amazing.

It's more than just anonymous people posting. Most people stay because of the group of people that are here. Let's face it, we're a great bunch, and we add more and more great people every single day.

When I first posted on AMHD I had no intention of becoming a permanent member. I really thought I'd be a one-hit wonder. I found AMHD by pure chance. I had a question, I googled, and AMHD popped up. I signed up, I asked my question, and I instantly got a response. Sadly the response didn't fix my problem, and some problems can't be easily fixed on the Internet, but I got valuable advice, advice that will hopefully lead me to a solution. Ya, it's still not resolved. But it's a legal issue. What, you think a legal issue can be resolved in a day or two? I wish!

Well I left after that question. Then one day, around two months later, I got an email asking if I had another question, or if I thought I could answer some of the questions being asked by others. So I came back. I had to get a new password because I had forgotten my old one. I still wish I knew what it was. I have no idea.

So I answered a few questions, met a few people, butted heads with a few, and before I knew it I had online friends. I didn't know that was possible, and I scoffed at people who said it was. Now these people are no longer “posters on AMHD”–they're friends, they're family, and they mean the world to me.

There are so many of us that are lifers (as we call it) on AMHD. There's a reason why. I have to say, I had a rocky start when I first decided to come back. I got into a few arguments; I had a few moments when I really wished I could reach through my monitor and slap someone silly. That still happens sometimes. The funny thing, most of the people I butted heads with are now some of my closest friends.

I'm so glad I stuck around. I'm so glad to have these people in my life, because frankly, my life is better with them in it. I hope their lives are better because I'm in it too.

I can still be a bit pigheaded. When I'm passionate about something, the claws can come out. I'm also a big softie. Oh no, I just admitted that. Okay, okay, yes, I am, but that information is classified. If you tell anyone, I will have to….oh look, a bunny!

Long story short…or did I already surpass the 500-word maximum?….I love it here. It's worth posting more than once. I did, and it changed my life for the better.