I saw the mention dude. I've read nearly all the messages and mentions I received since being away. It would be easy to allow the kindness and praise I receive here go straight to the head, inflating it beyond all known stress limits. I would have blown up a long time ago though, had I allowed that to happen. One of the first things I had to learn here after showing up so many years ago was how to take a genuine compliment. Years later I'm still confused and can't figure out what the hell it is that I do "right" to impress you folks and get a reaction like this or the kind words while I'm here or away. A simple "thank you" is all I can ever seem to come up with in response and it never feels like enough but it's all I have. The simple words take the place of a feeling I can't describe.
So much uncertainty and confusion happening around here lately, yet my face is still feeling the impact of the smile that first started while I was sitting here writing the jokes and continued on throughout the day as I sat here experiencing this reaction from everyone. Those muscles hadn't been used in a long time. Still stiff. ...And that's just me being real with you.