OMG OMG
I'm from NC originally and my parents live there still, I'm attending grad school in Southern California. Does this mean I can actually attend the SPACEWITCH RETREAT???

One of my favorite poems of all time! I'm thinking of having some wall art with it made for my new apartment, actually.

I just don't know what to say, but I know I must say something.

I feel sort of teary and sad, and have been just-on-the-verge of actually crying since 9 when the first Last Day post went up with the Link Roundup. Now I'm trying to make the most of these last moments.

I'll really, really miss this community. I'm on Slack and reddit, so hopefully many of the wonderful conversations here will be continued. However, there won't be wonderful new content every day, and I don't know what that will mean for its longevity. As a longtime fannish type person, I'm used to seeing online communities diminish, and then slowly fade into nothing, and then one day no longer really be there at all. I suspect that will happen to the Toast remnants, and that makes me very sad, but at least we'll have that aspect for a little while longer.

I will miss the jokes and posts and thoughtful writing and beautiful stories. I will always regret not trying harder to have something published on the Toast. I will be so sorry to have Monday mornings come without the bright spot of the first Link Roundup.

I always had a hard time accepting myself. I've always felt like I was too weird, too different from other people. Here, I found others who were like me, who were thriving, who showed me not only that my interests were all right but other things that it was great to be nerdily passionate about. I think it'll be a long time before I can read a good book without going "Can't wait to discuss this on the Open Thread!"

But I guess I don't feel the level of sad I expected to? The Toast was always a little too good for this world, a little too good for any of us, a space that was at once safe and challenging, that made me laugh and cry and think and feel connected to others and get to know myself. Maybe it has done what it has to do for each of us, and now it's time for the Toast to go on.

It's been so wonderful to know all of you. Thank you for everything. I'll miss you all so much. Thank you especially to our tireless and compassionate editors, who have done so much for so little, and to every writer who brought us all so much joy, and to all of you.

This is a Good Dog.

Now I will never be able to publish my findings: the Truth about Bartillary (Why The Bartender is a Time-Traveling Hillary Clinton).

It got me through the first year of eating disorder recovery, the breakup of a four-year relationship, writing my first novel, and applying to grad school.

So thanks, The Toast. For all of that.

its in 15 minutes!

Thank you! I'm nervous/excited.

Thank you this is so helpful! I really appreciate you taking hte time to type all this out, especially the "limiting guilt" thing which is not my personal strength in this or any other area.

I GOT A TOTE

I dithered about whether i desired a Take to the Sea or a Mermaid one, and couldn't afford both (despite seriously considering it). I went with the Ship option, my original plan, and I can't wait to actually hold it in my hands! I shall take it to the library and fill it with many books and the librarians will know me as one of their own.