CYEBDS
begun - early April, 1998
finished - 11:47p.m., January 12, 1999

WOW!!! It's finally finished. It took me ten months to do it, but I finished it! *smiles* I'm extremely proud of myself. This is the first major, non-school assignment story I've finished. And especially one of this magnitude.

Over three hundred and thirty pages
Over hundred thousand words

By the Gods! This is the longest single story I've ever written! (Can't you tell I'm a little overwhelmed? *smiles*)

Well, I think I better stop feeding my ego, and say what really matters *chuckles*

So many people to thank! Without these people, CYEBDS would not even exist, let alone go on to become what it has. It's my own personal belief that stories take on a life of their own, and I must admit, CYEBDS certainly did in my eyes. But without the appreciation and support of these people, neither CYEBDS nor I would be anywhere.

First and foremost I have to thank Hanson. Had my brother not woken me up shouting "That MMMBop song I told you about is on!" at 8am on a Saturday morning way back in June, '97, I would not be the person I am now. Your music touched something in me, along with the millions of other people around the world. In short, you and your music changed my life. For that, I can never thank you enough.

Second and equally foremost, my best friends, Ronnie Maloney, Kats Suarez, Ann Shen, Cat Evans and Brian Carter. Were it not for the existence of these five people, I would more than likely be contained in an asylum in Siberia *chuckles*. You people picked me up when I was down, listened to me when I needed an ear and understood me when no-one else could. *hugs* I've tried to return it as best I can, but to you five I am indebted for life, which is the reason I've officially dedicated CYEBDS to you. Thank-you for everything you've done for me.

I really have to thank everybody who puts up with my erratic rantings, whether it be over AIM or ICQ or email; Rhee, Kat, Michelle, Tiffany, Briget, Ashley, Shay, Valerie, Jan, Stephanie, and just everybody whose names I've forgotten. You guys give me new insights into the art of conversation, since I really don't engage in it all that much outside of my computer *smiles*

A HUGE thank-you to the land and blood of my ancestors, and that of my own heart, Cymru, otherwise known as Wales; the most beautiful country this side of Eden. One day I'll make it there, and I'll guarantee I probably won't want to leave. I am Cymry at heart, now and forever, so be it.

Thank-you to Edlyn and Ronnie who took over the awards/banners and junk-drawer pages respectively [on the old Geocities site] when I was snowed under with school. Thank-you so much, it took a lot off my mind, and made more room for English and (the dreaded) Maths during exam time (I aced both; I'm still trying to figure out how! *smiles*)

And I do have to send out a special thank-you to those people whom I've never met, or don't know all that well, but whose work has touched something in me and inspired me; Josh, Manda, Sheryl, Kristen, Jax, Kayla, Larisa, Laun and the Sisterhood.

And a list of those things that I could never have written this story without;
Microsoft Word 97; WordPerfect v6.0; Netscape Communicator v4.x; Reader's Digest Guide to Places of The World; The Pocket Macquarie Dictionary; The Heritage Illustrated Dictionary; Chambers Pocket Dictionary; The Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopaedia; Collins Family Encyclopaedia; Readers Digest Family Health Guide; Atlas Of The World; Welsh Lexicon; Dictionary of the Celts; Arthurian Dictionary; Celtic Astrology; Myths And Legends Of Ancient Britain; A Pictorial History of Wales; 'Here Be Dragons' - Sharon Penman; 'A Night Without Armor' - Jewel Kilcher; 'Dark Side Of The Moon' - Pink Floyd; 'Pieces Of You' - Jewel; 'Voice Of An Angel' - Charlotte Church; my entire Hanson CD collection (singles included); my entire Welsh/Celtic CD collection; 'The Ancient Future' trilogy - Traci Harding; TV Hits; Smash Hits; DOLLY; Girlfriend; big hit; PaintShop Pro 5; Adobe Photoshop v4.01; Adobe Illustrator; Microsoft Photo Editor; Animation Shop 1 . . .
Anything else I've forgotten?

And finally, thank-you to all of you reading, from those of you who were with me from the start, to those who are reading CYEBDS for the first time. If it weren't for all of you, I would have taken this story down long ago. It's all because of you, your faith and your support. I love you all!

Diolch yn fawr and Blessed Be,

- Lauryn

* * * *

<<