Friday, January 20, 2012

It's Time...

It's with a heavy heart that I have decided to close The Pine Valley Bulletin.  Yes, the show was canceled back in April.  Yes, it last aired September 23.  But still I haven't closed the site.  The show lingered on as fans waited to see if there would be an 11th hour save, and were jerked around quite a bit in the process!  And when the save didn't happen, we commiserated our disappointment.  

I've tried my best to hold on.  Soap fans are nothing if not loyal, and now, I feel a bit like a traitor.  But I have to do what I feel in my heart is the right thing for me.  And letting it go is the right thing for me.  And then, as of late, each and every time I came close to articulating it, something bizarrely AMC would happen.  I was getting ready to write this post last week when a friend told me she got me the autograph of one of my fave stars from the show, Darnell Williams.  Jesse Hubbard!   Seriously, he's one of the main reasons I started watching AMC in the first place way back when.  And so I put my thoughts on the back burner, again.   And yesterday, as I sat down to write this again, what do I find in my mailbox delivered via Priority Mail?  A copy of People Magazine's commemorative AMC hardcover issue signed by none other than Susan Lucci!  So it keeps feeling like the forces of nature are telling me not to let it go.   How does that keep happening?  But when that bit of excitement about the latest autograph or bit of news or whatever fades, I still feel like it's the right time to move on. 

I'm blessed.  Truly.  So very blessed.  AMC has done wonderful things for me.  I've had so many adventures.  I've met so many people.... both of the celeb variety and fellow fans.  I've made lifelong friends because of AMC.  I've met people who I never ever would have met if we didn't have AMC in common.  I've received cards, letters, gifts, and countless words of encouragement and support through the years.  When my dad was sick, AMC fans were there for me.  When my Grandma died, you were there for me again.  You have always cared and been supportive.  Yes, when I look back on my time as a Pine Valley Diva I can honestly say it has been a blessing to me.


So how does one walk away from it?  Believe me, I've grappled with that thought for months.  Can I do it?  Can I walk away?  Can I end a part of my life that has all at the same time given me joy, heartache and a weird level of fame?  And the answer is always yes - now is the time to move on.   Because my heart tells me that there is something else on the horizon that will bless me with all the things my AMC site has in the past.  Maybe it's the book so many have been encouraging me to write.  Maybe it's just living my life and being who I am.  Whatever it is, I can't wait to find out! 

Thank you, thank you all so much for 13 amazing years with the PVB.   And thank you AMC, for 41 amazing years.  This site will remain online as a history source for the show, although I will no longer be posting on it.  As for the message boards, they will remain open indefinitely.  xoxo

39 comments:

Tuck Miller said...

Kathy, what can we say, but thanks. Even tho we have yet to meet, I consider you a friend. Hey, we are Facebook connected...now don't be giving that up as well, or I will just have to drive to your house and paint it in a zebra style pattern.

We have all gone thru the hills and valleys, the happiness and sorrows, the good days and the bad.

We wish you only the best. Cya on FB.

knit one, knit two said...

thank you for your dedication to this site. i'll miss seeing you in my blog feed. good luck with your future endeavors!

judyjj said...

Do whatever you need to do, but don't hide your light. Tks!

Bellesouth said...

I just want to give you a great biggol' hug!!

I am SO glad you brought this site to us for so long, and I am honored to call you my friend!!! Love and more love and even more love. And zebras. Can't forget zebras.

- Squidly :)

Joseph Crisalli said...

Kathy, many thanks for the many, many years of fun, information and community you made possible. You did it all with class and humor and your generosity will never be forgotten.

Wendi said...

Thank you Kathy for the great site but I do understand your reasoning for shutting it down. AMC will be missed greatly and who knows maybe they'll figure something out and you can start this up again. Thanks again for all your hard work on the information you gave us. We are FB friends and will continue to be.

sonja said...

Thank you so much for this site. It was a lot of fun to click over to. I loved your editorials best, I think!

I understand that it's time to move on though. I'm not sure what else there is to do. I wish you the best in your future adventures!

Unknown said...

sniff sniff
-Ellen

Dianne NJ said...

It's been weird lately, hasn't it? I still go to check my dvr sometimes to see if anything taped. Thank you Kathy for all you've done, I'll miss reading your words.

mmm said...

Thanks for all you have done over the years, Kathy. I've enjoyed celebrating AMC with you!

RIP Pine Valley Bulletin.

AAA7353 said...

Dear Kathy,
The best thing about learning to use a pc was the fact that I could come to your wonderful AMC site. My daughter and I had the pleasure of meeting you in NYC at the Marriot Hotel luncheon. I think it was in 2002, I'll have to check my photos. You are truly talented and kept us informed. I was always "in the know". I will miss you as much as AMC. May God bless you and your family. Hopefully one day we will meet again. Best wishes and thank you so much for all your hard work. XO, Angela
Long Island, NY

Java and Books said...

Kathy, I'm glad I have you on Facebook. I always looked forward to Sundays and I would run in to the computer to the Bulletin and read the spoilers. I am still heartbroken that AMC is gone. My heart wants AMC to come back in some form or fashion, but my head says that it will never happen. Thank you so much for ALL of the information and enthusiasim.

JuJu said...

Reading your blog has been habit for me for many years. I'm so sorry that this part of your life, and mine, will be coming to an end. I wish you all the best in the future, and will see you on FB!

SallyV said...

So sorry to see this go...I've been reading for years, but when it's time, it's time. All the best to you...Maybe you'll find another soap to be passionate about and start writing again!

Kathy said...

Thank you all so so much. I'm a little verklempt reading your messages. If a miracle occurs and AMC comes back, then yeah, maybe I will too. But until that happens, my soap watching days are over. I really don't want to watch another. I've been AMC exclusive for so many years.

Love and hugs, and come find me on Facebook if you haven't already!
https://www.facebook.com/Zbragrrl#!/

Gary said...

Kathy, thank you for your website. I looked forward to reading your updates everyday through the years. You will be missed. Take care....Gary

Beckey said...

Ah... I guess it's true what they say. Don't have to go home, but can't stay here. The best part of AMC for me is that it made us friends! :) That won't change even now.

100 Days of Gardening said...

There was a scene with Stuart once. I think he was lecturing JR or Scott or someone once younger. The younger character was in a bad mood and mad at the world and giving up hope. The younger character said he didn't care about anybody anywhere. Stuart corrected him in a fatherly speech to tell him that the "greatest caring of all is to care about someone that you don't know." He was talking about the work people did at the hospital -giving passionate medical care to people they didn't know. He was saying that caring about strangers was about the highest ethical and moral ground that a person could have. I always remembered those words that the AMC writers wrote for Stuart -it was a classic AMC tear-jerker. The writing was brilliant and the speech could have been applied to any situation. "The greatest level of caring is to care about someone you don't know." We all don't know each other but share a mutual empathy that we are all going through the same heartbreak. I loved of a living, moving, classic piece of art called AMC that we were blessed to have in our lives for 40 years. I too share your pain, your mourning and the inevitable reality that we have to let go....Please Jenny, Ruth, Palmer up in heaven send us more signs that it's rally not over...

Anyone else have any favorite character quotes?

Uruvia said...
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Uruvia said...

Dear Kathy! Thank you so much for this site! I've been following AMC since 2000 when I first saw it in America. I was an exchange student that year and I got hooked on the show because of my favourite Marcy Walker. When I came back to my home country (Russia) I kept following all the news that I could find on the Web about AMC. And then when fans started uploading AMC episodes on YouTube I watched every single one of them. And of course I was surfing your great blog! THANK YOU!!!!

Little Libby said...

Oh, Kathy, Thank you seems so little but so true. I'll see you on the otherside (F/B). Till then....

moecleo said...

I have enjoyed your site. Thankyou for all of your hard work. Good luck with your future endevors and God bless.

Anna said...

There are not enough words to say thank you and truly convey the enormity of the emotion. You are the epitome of above and beyond, and I am forever grateful for the community that you built. I stopped watching AMC long before the powers that be made the decision for me, but I never stopped coming to the PVB. So grateful for all it's meant to me. Thank you!

Nathan said...

Thank you Kathy for all of the work you've put into this site. I only hate that I discovered in the last couple of years.

Now, when is the first issue of True Blood Weekly going to press???

Michael Dorfman said...

Sorry to see the site go!

Thanks for all you've done over the years. We'll miss you.

kimbutgar said...

Thank you for this blog. I so miss AMC that I kept coming back in hopes you had news about the show.

I really appreciate the love and effort you put into this blog.

Good luck and best wished.

Casandra said...

As I read your final post it was with a heavy heart. We all sadly knew this day was going to come it had to of course. We have had to slowly let go of the show we all so dearly loved.

Like so many I have never met you but have been reading your posts and spoilers as long has I followed to coming and goings of Pine Valley.

I wish you nothing but the best in where your life takes you next. Your love and dedication for the show will forever have my thanks and gratitude. Thank you for your years of serivce to a show we both loved so dearly.

And thank you finally for leaving this site up as resource for AMC fans. Through your site and so many other's Pine Valley will live on even if only in our memories.

Best of Luck to you.

Shauna Lease said...

this message really makes me feel like its over for me. luckily i haven't seen the last month or last two weeks of the show so i still can watch those, but it officially feels like its over and i am filled with an immense sadness. i wish you the best, although i kind of want to cry right now. thank you for 13 amazing years! <3<3 xoxo

j.l.o.theoriginal said...

thank you Kathy

Yvonne said...

An end of an era. Though I never really posted too much; I looked at your site everyday! This was one of the first ones I found in the 90's. Thank you very much for all you did to keep us updated. I will miss this board terribly. Good luck!

Deb said...

Kathy, you have done a wonderful service to us AMC'ers for the last 13 years. You are amazing on how you found so much for us to read. We lived vicariously thru you when you went and met the stars. lol Glad we are friends on facebook, it is fun to see the person who made us laugh, cry and anger us during the end. You are awesome. See you on facebook. Take care and keep writing in your food blog.

staceygal1984 said...

I hate that the show ended the way it did there's no ending to it what was the point it should at least have an ending or somewhat of an ending like they're goin off somewhere or something hopefully it'll happen

100 Days of Gardening said...

I agree that the ending leaves us in the loop. However, I guess they wanted to leave us with the ultimate soap opera ending - the cliff hanger...It's the ultimate cliff hanger. Who got shot? Did anyone get shot? Who really fired the gun?

By the way, can we all share where the AMC alums are popping up. I saw Annie on Young and the restless and the old Scott on a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial...

sunrose said...
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sunrose said...

Kathy, I decided the same thing, that it's time. With that said, how about writing that book, make it about AMC, the stories etc. that happened & maybe solve the question of who was shot what happened after etc??? I have several AMC books that I have collected over the years and they (as far as I know) have never been updated. Maybe you could get together with Agnes Nixon & do it. That would be a real treat for all us AMC fans.... just saying.....

robin10dst said...

Thank you so much for this page. I still miss AMC so much...wish they would give us a real end to the show. I wonder, did Erica get shot? I am boycotting the network, especially the noon hour that gives us the chew. I am sick of cook shows, talk shows and reality tv...drama in the afternoon was the best!

Nom de Plume said...

So, now that the show is coming back are there plans to revitalize the site? Is it possible you'd be interested in allowing someone else to run the site?

Tony in CA said...

I, too, refused to believe in AMC's return until I saw an actual episode with my own eyes, but I just did! It was nice to see some of the old faces again. I hope that it succeeds, so that more of the old faces return.

Jacquelyn said...

Happy to see AMC is back! http://pillspress.blogspot.com/2013/04/welcome-back-pine-valley.html