Hey BillsMafia, I've got one thing to say...

[stevestojan]

But do you add the pickle juice to the pasta water while cooking or after the pasta is finished? 

[muppy]

2 hours ago, thebandit27 said:

So, TBD, it’s been a while.

 

No, I don’t expect that most of you have missed me, and yes, I’m glad to see that the board has gone on just fine without my bluster.

 

For those of you that asked and never got an answer: I’ve been around. I’ve lurked a bit, thought a lot, but mostly it’s been business as usual as a Bills fan. I still watch every NFL game every week, and my Bills passion hasn’t changed one single solitary iota. But this post isn’t about me, it’s about you.

 

All of you.

 

See, some of you reached out to ask where I’ve been, and a few even asked me why I left (thanks for the concern from all of you—yes, I’m doing well and the family is happy, healthy, and grateful). It started simply enough: I was tired. Tired of spending more time than I should typing the same thoughts over and over to an audience that didn’t routinely bring out the best in me (a fault that lies with me, not you, dear reader). Then, at some point (I can’t exactly say when), I realized something. Something big. Something life-changing.

 

I don’t need this.

 

Not to say that TBD, the Bills, or Bills Mafia aren’t great. They are. I love the Bills. I love Bills Mafia. More today than I ever have before. And being a part of this community gave me a platform to express thoughts and share ideas that I never would’ve otherwise explored. But…

 

The time away showed me that I don’t need the platform. I don’t need people to validate my thoughts, rants, ramblings, tirades, shtick, or whatever you want to call it. I’m enough without it. And that brings me to the reason for this post: I want to share that one final thought with all of you.

 

You’re enough. Right now. Right where you are.

 

You don’t need outsiders telling you who you are, what you represent, what you deserve. You don’t need a Bills’ victory over the nemesis, you don’t need our QB (the best in the world—yeah, I said it) to win MVP, and no, you don’t need a Super Bowl.

 

You. Are. Enough.

 

Look, I know how it sounds. Like some happy nonsense oh-well-it’s-okay-if-we-lose-sad-sack-crappola. Yeah, I used to think so too. When T-Bass’ kick sailed wide right, I was crushed, just like all of you. But it’s a different kind of crushed now. I’m sad for the team, not because of the team. I want these kids to win for them, not for me. Because I know who I am, I know who made me, and I’m never going to let the result of a sporting event affect how I view myself in the grander scheme of things.

 

And neither should you. You’re not a punch line, and you’re not a victim. You’re Bills Mafia. You chose this, you LOVE this, and no matter what you or anyone else may say, you wouldn’t give it up for anything else in the world.

 

And neither will I.

 

And I have good news: there’s no worst nightmare left. The worst thing that could ever happen to us as fans has already happened many times over. Be not afraid. We’re in this thing together; to the bitter end. Because being a Bills’ fan isn’t about winning games, breaking records, or breaking tables. Heck, it’s not even about football—football is just the setting; the arena. Being a Bills’ fan is about being a community. It’s about having each other’s backs, and letting each other know that I don’t care how hard we get hit, or how many times we get knocked down. I’ll keep picking you up as long as I know you will do the same for the rest of us.

 

And that, my Bills Mafia brethren, is enough for me. And I implore you all: let it be enough for you, too.

 

Bandit, signing off.

WHOA.

 

as this is a first time reader of the OP I appreciate your sharing on a topic you held dear to your heart. Was that a one hit piece and poof again?

 

I wouldn't burn bridges with an online chat community as great as TBD but thats just me. Best. m 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 24 by muppy