With Gratitude and Love, We Humbly Present Our First Year with Vivian Thoughts

With Gratitude and Love, We Present Our First Year with Vivian

Viv started journaling July 29th, 2003 and I started journaling on August 22nd, 2003. The first time Viv caught my attention was through John G.’s awards. It was late September and she was the 13th person to be awarded. Viv was in the spotlight from AOL as well and was a pioneer Beta tester, graphics and marquee user, and could use sound to display music and audio entries.

At first, we just lurked ... amazed ...

On October 4th, we stepped past our shy boundaries. Viv had posted one of her first moving pictures. It was a bunny entry that featured a happy go lucky song being played while a real bunny tried to hump a stuffed bunny. We’d thought that was about the funniest thing we’d ever seen! Viv appeared to have a red- hot sexy side and within a few entries added something about someone and panties and such. We giggled and giggled.

Viv was becoming very popular with all her spunk and vitality. We were unsure if she loved or hated AOL. On one hand, she was appearing in ads (including a tv spot), but at the other hand, she was always demanding the best from AOL and was very clear about expecting service! But, from the start, we knew Viv LOVED her fellow journalists! And, she had a love of journals and what they could do, especially in support of a community.

After Viv spent time on her Wheel of Fortune Journal, she came up with an idea of doing journal awards. Many in the community became involved. She did entries through audio and you were able to feel the excitement in her voice. During this time, Gregg had started the B2B Group and Viv was an active leading member. Her first comments to us were after we posted a pin-up note on our journal reminding us not to journal while at work. Then a few days after that, we posted an on-line sticky note reminding her to get some sleep. We were amazed with her enthusiasm, but worried over her burning the candle from both ends. We didn’t want her to become overwhelmed or sick.

The only time we wrote to Viv during the awards efforts was in teasing her about not fearing the dust bunnies. We were mesmerized by the unfolding of the awards, but remained a shadow person. We did congratulate the winners including Viv, to which she offered kind regard.

After that Viv became very busy on her family visit to Nigeria journal. It was as if she’d borded the d*mn plane! When she was home again, she took care of a special niece who needed her. We were very impressed with her ability to make a difference in another’s life and trusted her to handle the issues with love and respect. Viv never lost the beat. She posted at the end of November holiday greetings to all of her J-Land neighbors. We felt specially blessed to know her.

Viv has always been one to go the extra smile. When we posted our first web page related to our multiplicity, she was one of the first to visit. She encouraged us which was as important as the site itself. She also assisted us in chilling out when we were put upon to do some actual baking for a post-Thanksgiving celebration. She was very sensitive to our fears.

Viv started her December with a bang! She had taken off the week to do some holiday arranging and her holiday kick-off was highly attended. She greeted her visitors in Merry Christmas’ messages in many different languages, posted ornaments and e-cards. She also indicated a precocious idea of celebrating people’s birthdays.

We had a terrible cold in December but Viv comforted us in cheerful messages. Then our computer died and she comforted us again. When Frank died, she was everywhere comforting and grieving, because so many of the community felt affected.

Viv welcomed us back from a business trip back from Arizona and she teased us about getting such a nice Christmas bonus in addition to the trip. Viv was sensitive to us spending the holiday alone and she encouraged with us our sense of intelligence which was pretty hard for us to imagine. And, if we added a graphic to our journal, she smiled that much brighter. We were of course touched when she remembered to say hello at Christmas. One of her decorations reminded me of a beloved grandmother who had long since passed away. I felt as if I was with family and loved.

After Christmas Viv squeezed in the next holiday of Kwanza by starting two new journals. We applauded one of the affirmations on self-determination and the practice of making self choices. Viv presented herself as the three faces of Vivian after the famous multiple, Eve. We can still heartily chuckle over Viv’s changes. Later Viv was to write, "I will free myself to experience new ideas, new viewpoints, new philosophies, new understandings."

The first of the year brought me new challenges with my bosses. Viv noted that it might be better to look at the vodka instead of drinking it! She cheered us on after we accepted a panel position for John G.’s Journal of Excellence awards. Viv was one of the group of people I thought really committed themselves to the journal community. She does it with class and she does it with red satin jammies! She laughed with me over my fascination dream with Clint Eastwood.

Soon enough it became Valentine’s Day. Viv stopped over with the sprinkling of love in the air. Sometimes Viv just stopped by to wish us a wonderful weekend. Hehe by the first of the year we’d decided Viv was a lovey duv! We were able to tease her now and she continued to hug us back. Viv was huggin a lot of folks! We encouraged Viv to bless her 3D home as she made a valiant effort to (as Vince would say) corral the dust bunnies. I thought for sure she was going to lose us as she started cleaning out her journals. Fortunately, the only thing she tossed was an old format from her side bar. Not often did Viv complain of her work work like we were doing. We thought and still think of Viv as one of the most beautiful women we know. And, we would encourage her sillier side, such as the maintaining of a Christmas tree in February. Hang it with hearts Viv!

Viv had a special surprise for quite a while. No one knew what she was up to. We guessed incorrectly in that she’d become pregnant. We continued to tease, though we were pretty sure that the big guy was praising his own making of Vivian love!

Coming into the Valentines holiday, Vivian titillated her "crowd" with the presentation of Boobles which was a take on Google. The only thing was that Viv continued to fall asleep on the couch with her laptop. We snuck over to her place one time and found a male shaver in the medicine cabinet too sophisticated for Ikenna, a dead grapefruit in the fridge, and a holiday shrine near the back of her place. We left after discovering a blow-up ... oh nevermind!

We had to tiptoe around Vivian another day, because she used the big lettered, "A-N-G-R-Y" word. AOL was pushing Viv to new limits, because they’d been messing with her AOL-by-phone service. Yikes! Viv Mad!?? Maybe it was a little pressure, because the next day Viv, uncovered the secret project. She’d made for everyone a tremendously great journal for the collection of birthdays! It was such a wonderful surprise. We oogled her in excitement.

Over at our journal, Viv had taken a moment to feel a heartbreak with us and helped us through some bad memories. Then, I was scolded for working on Saturdays. Viv was also worried about OUR sleep! I’m not sure, maybe we had begun to empathize with each other ... We were over working and we knew it. She cheered when we stopped to remember Sr Tess’ birthday with one of Nadine’s beautiful mirrored/glass creations. Viv also thought it was a great idea for us to use the new private journals to communicate with Dr. M. And, she was sensitive to our needs when we had feared the breakdown of the community due to threat of "cliques." Gregg would show all a means to better humor the silliness.

We had once declared over at Viv’s place that we would continue to write entries that were 2,500 characters after they’d given us more room. Ahem, yes ... well. Viv’s Valentine’s Day collection was just one sweet treat! Viv though seemed to be running herself ragged again. This time, she overslept instead of making an air flight to visit with her brother for his birthday. I felt really bad for her, but she seems able to turn things into the better. Viv admitted to being in a slump. Not enough, of course, to forget Gregg’s royal birthday!

Viv was elated with the new Beta journals. Her new slogan became, "Beta means Betta" (Better). I tried to wake her up once when I saw the new flash design over at Vince’s. She woke up a little grumpy that day because of problems over at Beta. We were hoping she was going to keep her sense of humor. Big news was that she had been working through the glitches of creating backgrounds for the journals. This was all new territory added with the extra space.

There is not too much too say about the spring time months. In March, one of my client’s father had died and Viv figured out my hieroglyphics and extended kind words. I made a choice too to resign from the volunteer work we were doing with the awards. There was an issue we were battling on sexuality in the journals. Viv’s impression was that AOL owned the journals and things would be left up to them to resolve. We were ok with that. She hinted that it would be a really good idea to visit with Dr. M., and she stated quite eloquently that the eyes are the window of the soul. Very poetic.

Viv didn’t make it over to our place in April. She had Ikenna’s birthday to think of and Easter. Lot’s of well wishes going out from her place. As a special treat, her and Ikenna shared their Easter dinner at a nice seafood restaurant. For the record, both had smoothies. April had other complications in that Viv was tangled in some awkward romances. Three guys, count ‘em, THREE! I felt she was keeping the men folk on their toes ... and we were ready to question them about their objectives! Then ... DAMN ... it all crumbled and left our wonderful dear friend in tears. Could have kicked them all!

We continued at work under heavy responsibilities and not with little frustration! Viv caught up with us in May. She was very kind to thank us for our ongoing support and we knew she felt bad for not being able to keep up. She knew we were busy too ... one of those times when you smile, wave and go on your way independently. Viv left another June message ... after ‘bout knocking down the door, she commented that our pace was dizzying. By June 19th ... we finally were able to quit the weekend work. Yay us!!

Not to say we were done being frustrated. We were still dealing with money issues over my father’s estate. But, Viv is never one to leave you feeling a muck ... she gave us high praise for the couches we’d found. She said she was a pushover for pillows and sectionals, plus she thought sage was a warm and soothing color. The weird thing is ... as I am finishing up on this story tonight, I smile and look over behind my right shoulder, because the pieces she had encouraged are in my living room as of this morning!

Viv’s birthday was in May and she’d decided to keep one of the bo’s which still takes serious time and attention. We thought, hmm, maybe Viv is getting into a little mischief too! We were pretty sure his intentions should be asked! I also had a moment to laugh with Viv over ex’s. I compared them to the hard sucker coating you had to chomp through to get to the chewy chocolate inside. The kids are that gooey good stuff!

Our special girl wished all the women happy Mother’s Day and the community wished this back on Viv. She was congratulated for catching the attention of the AOL big guys and star makers. We thought her not only lovely, but unique in her community awareness. She had been rewarded a triple success in making the editor’s top 5, keyword TV talk, and the step-by-step page for audio. I’d say Happy Birthday luv!! But, you know Viv ... she took four days off blogging and caught another four days in Miami ... AND, then? She listened to one little broadcast from a motivational speaker on listening to your instincts in relationships. And, here we are in the middle of the AOL J-land’s First Year Anniversary celebrations. Thata girl, Viv! God Bless your lovin heart!! And, congratulations on your special Torch Bearer Award. You make us proud!!!