Greg, for the benefit of those who weren't around at the time, the NGDF has always been Don's. He was the founder and while he enlisted some help along the way over the years, there was never any question that he was the Grand Poobah. The squabble you may recall wasn't over the NGDF, it was about the rowdy spinoff that was and still is known as the Narrow Gauge Dead Goat Saloon. There both was and wasn't a squabble of sorts over that, but everyone was more than OK with the way it turned out for both everyone involved, and everyone who participated. John Coker coined the NGDF "The Gilded Lily" by comparison, but still, more than a few times we had to replace broken furniture and glass after some ferocious and epic brawls. I'm sure many of you remember those days from the Wild West, when John and I and other old dinosaurs (and you know who you are!) roamed the planet.

There have also been a couple of issues along the way with our host site(s), which also may be confusing. At least one of those had to do with the ever expanding material in our archives. That one came on quick, and had the effect of putting us through a couple of close calls. Nate Holmes has been absolutely fantastic, and has contributed in ways that have had a major influence on the NGDF as you know it to be today.

In the old days, John West and I helped ride Shotgun and helped fire for Don, and we still remain as part of the group which was quietly reformed who have assisted, then taken the helm before and through Don's final phase of his life. But John and I are mostly involved today in the way old dinosaurs can be. All of the technical aspects, and most of the moderating duties have been assumed by others in our NGDF team.

More will be said about this soon, probably after Nate has moved the NGDF under his direct control. That is going to take some doing, but we have every confidence, just as Don did, that this will be as seamless as it possibly can be. Please be patient, there may be a few bumps in the road, as we have endured before.

But we will never forget Don, his establishment of this wonderful site which has meant so much to so many over the years, and the great times we have all shared together, as we move into the future, still just as Don wanted it.

All of our deepest condolences to his "real" family, from all of us, who were his "other" family. We loved him and will miss him, but still keep him close.

Mike

(aka, and maybe for the last time, "^^ak Thu Waldcayut")