Merry Christmas to the Amazing AC Community!

I haven't published anything on AC in almost two weeks, and my daily page view totals have really been sucking, so I figured I'd better write this sappy Christmas letter ASAP! Have you guys missed me? No? Well, I missed you. I have presents to wrap, so I'll make this quick.

What a year it's been! Remember when all I did was write quirky articles about elves and vampires, and I had no clue what acute lymphoblastic leukemia was? I do. This year has changed me forever, and you, my loyal readers, have stuck with me through it all. (Wow, I knew this letter would be cheesy, but I think I could melt that last sentence and dip tortilla chips in it!) Do you have any idea how much I appreciate you?

Here are some facts and embarrassing revelations that prove how much the Associated Content community means to me:

Sometimes I purposely publish AC articles the night before my daughter's clinic visits so I have something fun to look forward to when we get home. By that, I mean that I look forward to all of your kind and funny comments on my articles. I get so excited every time a "You have a new comment on Associated Content" message shows up in my list of emails. Your sweet comments are like candy, but without the calories!

In the last year, I've done the majority of my reading-news, humor, poetry, fiction, celebrity gossip-right here on AC. Pathetic! I used to read books all the time. Now I'm not sure I remember how to turn paper pages, or how to read something without immediately wanting to leave a comment or send the author a personal message. I've truly been Associated Contentified.

Many of my AC cyber-friends have become real friends. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I have so much in common with other people who like to write funny stuff and publish it online for a few dimes. You don't have to search very long to discover kindred spirits on AC. I love you guys!

THANK YOU for helping me through a very hard time. The outpouring of love and support and prayers I've received from members of the AC community boggles my mind. (By the way, my daughter just came home from the hospital (again), and she is doing well.) When my daughter is older, I can't wait to show her all the get-well messages, poems, and pictures from "Mommy's writer friends," her AC angels.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

Love,
Maria

P.S.
My dad thinks you all are pretty cool, too. He just joined AC, in fact! Check out his first publication--a slideshow of lovely flower and garden pictures--here.