Thank You.

[LindaJeanne]

Ronnie,

Thank you.

Thank you for all the moments of discovery, all those moments of "Holy $#!+, this is good!".

Thank you for lyrics that inspire the imagination,

for all the times you challenged me to look at the world in a different way,

and for all the times your music brought me strength in the darkness.

Thank you for inspiring my own creativity. After a quarter century of procrastinating starting to write fiction, trying to wait until I'm "ready", I've finally signed up for www.nanowrimo.org for the first time this November. Ready or not, the writing is beginning. And you're the one that's finally getting me off my posterior to start; though explaining that may take another post.

Thank you for all the wonderful people I've met, as people drew together to mourn your death and -- far more lastingly -- to continue celebrate your life and incredible legacy.

Through your music, you have been there for me -- in my darkest moments, in periods of transition, in moments of celebration. From when I first heard Holy Diver at a time when I had indeed been down too long in the midnight sea, to the discoveries I am continuing to make-- hearing new things in your songs as my own perspective evolves.

Thank you for living your life in such a way that your fans experience, instead of the disillusionment so often suffered by those learning more about their favorite artist, the opposite experience. Because of your appreciation of and compassion for people; because of the way you have always given your all, never coasting on your talent but consistently working to push yourself to continue to improve.

Thank you for everything you gave, and everything that you continue to give through the mark you have made on the world of Metal, and the world of music, and on simply the world. Thank you for the love I could feel you felt for your fans, the one time I was fortunate enough to see you perform live.

Thank you for the music.

Thank you for the magic.

Thank you, my friend.

[olivious the drummer]

Beautiful post........I think you have spoken for the majority of us with your words.
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Stand up and Shout!!!!!

[Neon Knights Forever]

Well said, and touching as well, LindaJeanne.

Now, I want to say a few words of my own.

Ronnie, I just want to say thank you. For the happiness you gave me and your other fans through your music, for the love, attention, and time you gave all of us, for the love you showed your family and friends, for always giving 110% percent of yourself, for all the good works that you did, be it Children Of The Night, helping to liberate the Bulgarian nurses, multiple charity benefits.... I'm sure there are many more good works that you did that I've yet to find out about.

Thank you for the incredible compassion and caring that you showed other people, especially the care you showed for one of your young fans who was ill, when you were battling your own illness. Even with what you were going through, you still cared to take care of other people and put them before yourself.

Thank you for just being such a good, selfless, and caring person. We should all try to be more like you. Not even famous, but just good human beings, like you were.

I saw a rainbow, and thought of you...

I miss you...
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It's Always A Mystery, Not What It Seems To Be.

[LindaJeanne]

olivious the drummer -- Thanks

Neon Knights Forever -- beautiful words as well

[Neon Knights Forever]

Thank You, LindaJeanne. I love the fact that we can all speak the truth and share our feelings here on the forums... especially when we probably all have some friends and family members who don't even know who Ronnie was, or think that we may be a little 'off' for feeling the way we do! Yes, I've come to accept that fact that he has moved on, but does it still hurt when I think of it? Of course it does. Like it still does for a lot of us. Even though I did not personally know Ronnie, (although I was able to see him in concert twice and meet him once, briefly, at a fan meet and greet), I feel fairly certain that he would tell us all to not be sad and carry on...
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It's Always A Mystery, Not What It Seems To Be.

[olivious the drummer]

It took me a few months to be able to listen to Ronnies music without feeling inconsoleable......but slowly slowly I have become able to listen to him again but more over to celebrate his life and music and to relish more than ever what he gave to me.

I will miss the excitement of knowing a show was not far away but hey I have all the DVDs/albums and can be with him whenever I want.

Ronnie is my hero and I will always feel he has helped shape the person I am.....and for that I am eternally grateful. Ronnie - where ever you are, my friend, thank you , thank you, thank you - YOU ROCK!!!
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Stand up and Shout!!!!!