It is a great privilege to live in a country where ideas can be shared and even debated in such a public forum as this. All of the posts have given me much food for thought. As I have witnessed differing points of view being discussed on this and other boards concerning our friend Freddie, it brought me pause to meditate on who Freddie was and how he might have wanted to be remembered. It was from this meditation that I was inspired to write the following which I hope I can share with you:

The Measure of a Man

Many people only want to be remembered for the good that they did and the accomplishments they achieved. Many people fear that they will only be remembered for the failures in their flawed lives.

When it is my turn to write the final chapter of my life and I stand before the powers that be in this universe, I hope that, when my life’s story is opened and read, that people will read it all.

For I am not the sum of all of my achievements, nor am I the total of all my failures and faults, but a mixture of both is the weave of the tapestry of my life.

For if you take away my faults then my life is nothing more than that of a plaster saint, with no flesh and blood, and if you take away my accomplishments I become worthless.

But I am a human, made in the image and likeness of my creator, with the flawed inheritance of my first ancestors coursing through my veins.

I want nothing more than to be remembered for who I am today. This is the rod I wish to be measured by. That when my life is all said and done, it is said of me, “There goes a fine example of our race”.

Freddie, I apologize for all the times I have forgotten that you were just like me, a fine example of our race, beauty and flaws combined. Please daily remind me to take you down off the pedestal I have placed you on and allow you to walk among us as an equal among equals.

Beautifully said Luckymama and so very, very true! We all need to take heed to those words that were so realistically written.
Thanks for sharing that with us!

Beautiful...absolutely beautiful! Amen to you, Luckymama and for having someone like you here on the board! We can all learn a valuable lesson from your words! Thank you!

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Chico: Age before beauty.
Ed Brown: Pearls before swines.
VIAGRA: Nature's little way of saying "No hard feelings"

Thank you ! That was beautiful !

that was lovely...Very inspirational!

[This message has been edited by LADY LOVES FREDDIE (edited 08-17-2001).]

Luckymama,
That is a beautiful poem.I just love it.It really makes a peron stop and think about how they want to be remembered.Thank you.

De nada, and gracias for all the support and love I feel on this board. It's not easy sharing deep feelings sometimes, but you all make it easy, with your understanding and support!

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Cause I'm the mama, that's why!!! ;)

Luckymama!!!

What are you doing with your life? Those were beautiful words. Just like a speech. You should be writing books!

Heh, heh, heh....I wrestle alligators for a living! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/lol.gif Actually I teach 4th and 5th graders science! I like to write on the side, though. Freddie Fan Fiction! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Cause I'm the mama, that's why!!! ;)

FYI

I want people to know why this poem, if you will, came to me. I have been thinking a lot lately about how Freddie would have viewed what is being said on this and other boards about him and the people he knew and loved. I do not in any way, shape or form want to say that I would know the mind of a man who is not me. But knowing what little I have learned about who Freddie might have been, I think he would be a little saddened. I know I am. I am shy and do not like discussions that seem to be turning bitter. I know it makes me sad. How ever we chose to view Freddie, Kathy, or anyone else is certainly our right and our privilege and I would be the last one to take that away from anyone, including the right to post your opinions here or anywhere. I just wish it could remain in the spirit of peace and kindness, agreeing to disagree, if you will. We all should be able to share our feelings and not feel nervous that our spirits might be crushed in the process. I feel fairly certain that Freddie would have felt this way too. He seemed like a sensitive person, who thought of others around him with a generosity of spirit. If he were here among us today I feel fairly certain he would be the first to say he was a human being who did a lot of good and made a lot of mistakes. Let's not tear his memory and each other apart, please.

Thank you all for being part of Freddie's fan family.

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Cause I'm the mama, that's why!!! ;)

Amen, Luckymama! None of us knew Freddie (with a couple of exceptions but even they didn't have the privilege of knowing him in great depth), but I agree that he probably was at heart kind, sweet, generous, and sensitive. He would not approve some of the things that have been said on this and other boards, and even privately, by people who profess to admire him for whatever their reasons. I too wish that we could all keep it friendly for the sake of his memory. That is why I chose this quote from him as my signature.

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"A friend is faithful, trusting, and helpful, someone that realizes your imperfections and stands by you."--Freddie Prinze

Beautifully said Luckymama. Your words brought tears to my eyes. You expressed such lovely sentiments and thoughts. I will always remember this moving poem. You are a gifted writer.

Luckymama,
I just wanted to tell you that i thought your words were true and well put. Freddie had enough sadness in his life i do not want him to be saddened by what goes on with his "Extended family" on the boards.

Beauitful!

I agree with you ! Please let us love Freddie for who he was. A loving , caring person full of laughter. I, just like Freddie have made mistakes from time to time. Yet Freddie had the compassion to forgive others as much as I have forgiven him.

[This message has been edited by hue_mee (edited 08-22-2001).]

I have had a rough weekend and since you all have been so kind to me here I thought I would share my pain with you all.

It was a long, sad weekend for one because a dear friend of mine here was away and I missed her dearly.

It was a long weekend and I decided to do something I sometimes do when I am bored... I went back and re-read through some of the posts on this board.

It was a long, sad weekend because, in re- reading the posts of happier times, when friends of Freddie Prinze and CATM came together to share fun, fantasy and questions about a man and his show, I found myself longing for the innocence of those happier times.

In talking with some of you all in great depth in e-mails and on the IM, many of you know I viewed my interest in all things Freddie and CATM as a kind of mid-life thing, trying to recapture a part of my youth, I guess. I never regret getting involved here and I love all the friendships I have cultivated here.

I tell you all of this to say I have given serious thought to whether or not I can stay here among you. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

I used to have fun here.

I used to laugh a lot and even cry a little, both knowing I was among family who understood and cared.

I want to say that I see validity in everyone's thoughts, ideas and feelings about things related to Freddie that are very serious and important.

But my fragile spirit cannot handle the tone any longer.

It is with deep regret and loss that I feel I must make myself scarce, for a while at least.

Maybe it's me....Maybe my time has come to put away this love and move on....I do this with much sadness in my heart.

I want everyone to know that I love you and consider all of you my friends.

As another great comedian of our time once sang...Thanks for the memories!

Luckymama.....always!


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Cause I'm the mama, that's why!!! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/wink.gif
Do not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins...Old Indian Proverb

[This message has been edited by Luckymama58 (edited 08-27-2001).]

I just want you to know that I will miss seeing you on this board, reading your dates with Freddie and roleplaying with you.

I hope you come back again soon.

I'd also like to add, and this is for all you actually, Everyone here really knows how to express themselves so wonderfully. I think it's great that we can just feel right at home here. It's tough not to be passionate about views and opinions when you have Freddie as inspiration.

yes Luckymama,
It is sad what has happened to our extended Freddie family.I will miss this board for the fun we HAD here.
But i don't think it's time to give up on your love of Freddie(If that's what you mean)
Time spent loving one another is never wasted.Time spent in anger and hurt is wasted. Love ya

Luckymama, you will be missed. I have enjoyed reading your posts and have been touched by your creative contributions to all of us here.
I find it extremely distressing that the spirits of negativity, meaness, personal attacks, and need to create chaos have so wantonly gone after so many on this board.
I understand not wanting to be a part of a community that is allowing this bullying behavior to be accepted, yet, wish this decision for your life had been facilitated by only you and not influenced by outside factions.
Being one of the many who have been comforted by the camraderie of other's like yourself who have lived in silence all of these years since Freddie left, I hope you will carry the good connections made here with you.
Things that make you go...Hmmmmmmmmmmm...why are so many good people exiting? http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

Luckymama - You'll be missed. We need you here. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

Amen, we will miss you around here! I read your post & it made me sad... I hate to see more people leaving the site. It's sad... Hope you come back soon! We need you around here! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

I sure hope you change you mind.I love reading what you have to say.I bet everyone does.Id hate to see you leave http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

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I to will miss you here. I really wasn't all that familiar with this board till I heard about it from you. I have enjoyed all the interesting posts till recently and really was getting kinda scared about what was being posted. I thougt I could blend in to this little family of Freddie fans . I love each and everyone here. But with the current overload of who is right and who is wrong concerning Freddies past was getting a bit tiresome. I'm sure Freddie wasn't put on this earth to cause a out burst. He was here for a purpose. He was here to make people happy with his humor and quick wit. Lets remember Freddie for his humor and quick wit, not for his faults. We are just as quilty with our own faults and we are excepted . Please except Freddie for his faults and mistakes. I know in my heart that God has excepted Freddie. Let him be at peace with our Father in Heaven.

Amen Hue! He is human & prone to faults just like the rest of us & I love him faults & all! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif God loves him & we all do too. He is looking down from heaven & I hope he is not displeased at what he sees. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif