The Badger Retires

EveningStar

EveningStar

Mage Scribe
Staff member
Knight of the Noble Order
Royal Guard
On December 22, 2005, almost nine years ago, four strong servants carried a litter bearing yours truly, "Him of the Stripes", the "Red Badger of Death", and pursuer of the chocolate chip cookies. Young ladies in silk gowns danced before, tossing rose petals on the procession. The world met EveningStar and saw at once that he was cute as a button (ask his mum).

Today's event is a bit more somber. I've known for a long time that much of what I love about the forum is memories of old friends and old discussions long gone. I can enjoy those in my memory without actually logging in, and they can't be taken away from me. I would ask myself why I bother logging in and until today I've been able to think of a good reason. I'm out of good reasons.

In my real life I am Dr. John Burkitt, DCS, National Scout Commissioner at Trail Life USA. I am working on my two latest books. Yes, I said two. Yes, I said latest, as in I am a professional author with a track record. To say I can't take a bath without being afeared the phone will ring is nothing less than the unvarnished truth, I give ye my affy-davy.

I enjoyed writing Byron on Wells stories and trying to provide commercial grade entertainment here. Most of my fans have moved on and the new folks are not interested. For those of you who remember Bramble the Fox, he has a new life as mascot of the Foxes in Trail Life's younger boy program "Woodland Trails".

I find my participation here pretty much restricted to arguing the traditional and compassionate side of who God is, whether there will be animals in heaven, or why they can't make Hostess Twinkies as good as they used to. I get upset, especially where Twinkies are concerned. I realized--as many of you haven't yet--that the world is not hanging on to their hats waiting to see how we will settle it once and for all. I'm too stressed out arranging regional training conferences and vetting potential national advisors to get upset over what is basically a local discussion among five or so people about whether God is a nice guy or an oriental despot. By the way, he's a nice guy...I met him repeatedly. Yes, I met God because he put his divine spark into a lot of wonderful people through whom God worked in my life when I needed his presence most.

If I'm going to feel stress, I should be stressed with upcoming projects. If I am to be angry, it should be with child abuse and the need to tone down our culture of deflected responsibility. Those are things I am in a unique position to actually attend to. I have to get cracking.

I have met many fine people here. I hope they will communicate with me at magescribe@comcast.net and, if warranted, by other means. Email me and we'll talk about other means. Honestly I mainly use Facebook for professional scouting and exclusively use LinkedIn for business. If you want to ask me on LinkedIn whether or not Susan ever got into the New Narnia, you're out of luck. I can't deal with thousands of snippets of information about camporees and uniform specs and stop to admire your cat dressed up as Darth Vader. I...just...can't.

Nine years...that's a long time. It's been a great time. This is a sad time, but it's a necessary one. Good bye, good luck, God bless, and may you find your own entrance to Narnia.

I will continue to check here for a few days in case anyone wants to message me, but remarks directed to me in discussion threads will pretty much go unanswered.

Buck, Bramble, Mountie, Thorny, Clara, EveningStar, Nickaby, Lord Cutshaw, Horace and Crystal all step onto the stage one last time, bow, and the curtain falls.
 
Thank you for all of your service, Eveningstar, Ol' Badger Dear. It has been much appreciated by so many of us. :D May God bless you and lead you now in your other ministries of life.
 
So sad to see you leave our family here, and FWIW, Byron on Wells is still loved by many!

We'll stay connected in the real world through FB. Love to you always.
 
Aw, no! :( I'm sad to hear that you're leaving but completely understand the reasons why. You have been a terrific moderator, always firm but nice when doing so. You'll be missed!
 
This is truly a tragically sad day in the history of TDL. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be missed immensely. But I do always have my memories of those best of days. *Salutes the Badger*
 
Yes Badger you will be missed even by me, but I don't think you should retire as you have so much to say and wisdom to give, even though your points were sharp and to the point the way I like them but I could see the message you put across. Your style was so simple and yet got everyone repling to you even me, so don't give up and if you do I will miss you :)
 
EveningStar/John
Thank you for your giving so much of yourself here, lighting the forum and keeping the cookies in the fridge of the mod lounge. Your badgerly wit and creativity, your discernment and gift of cutting through layers of speciousness to the truth -- You will be sorely missed.
Thank you again -- and see you on the Trail.
Blessings,
Benisse/Linda
 
Last edited:
I thought you said you were leaving before? But I suppose this time is more final.

It'll be sad to lose such a presence on these boards. Good luck with all your future endeavours. :)
 
Badger, you have done many great things to this site. You have brought a huge lot of joy and you also shared your hardships with us. It will be very empty without you around the forums. You are one of the nicest and most fairest mods and persons I ever came across. I hope you will drop by and post something and please please please don't let us stare at your picture in the TDL Museum and only have memories of you. Just remind us you are still around from time to time okay? :) Thank you for everything and may nothing but good and wonderful cross your path!
 
Thank you Badger for all the years you have been here, and all the wisdom you have shown. This forum won't be the same without you, and I know you will be missed. We haven't really gotten to know each other, but I still have great respect for you.

May God bless you in your travels through life, and thank you for all you have done for us. Many hugs and prayers to you.

God bless.
 
Badgers don't retire, they just move on to better setts!

This is what happened to the last two known badger retirees!

Edit: Removed per request, but our badger is not retired. He can't.
 
Last edited:
Hey, no one skins this badger!

Dearest EveningStar, one thing you, PotW, PK, Inkspot, and Benisse have given here is wisdom. It is a wisdom that is strange, off-putting and yet fascinating to the young people...often because it's what they need to hear regardless of the want to hear it. You will be missed. You always put a spoon full of sugar in to help the medicine go down. I will never forget the cross dressing blonde badger in a pink dress in the Slumber Party thread. I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair.

You are a treasure! I hope to be able to gab here and there still, be it email, FB, or Lord willing, someday in person...

I'm sorry for being so absent. I have missed the old days too. I am sending you a hug bro! I thank God for you!
 
Thank you, Evening Star, for all your wonderful contributions to this community. I am so thankful for your influence here!

I do remember the Byron on Wells stories from lurking around old threads, and still remember some of the writing technique examples you gave from them in the "Marketplace of Technique" thread. :)
 
Back
Top