**The Barrow-Downs Birthday Mailbag - May 2006** - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ithaeliel · 05-07-2006, 08:12 PM

Ithaeliel, alack, had been roaming the cruel, treacherous 'real world' apart from the beatific Barrow Downs for too long a time... upon her return, she felt it necessary and proper to give her regards to the esteemed and oft-worshipped owner and originator of the splendid site which used to happily occupy so much of her time. She wished she had more to offer, but had written her birthday greeting in an impromptu manner. The wight pulled out the simple scrap of paper and read the green-inked words:

Dear Mr. Splendidly Sinister B-W,

I send my fondest wishes to you and to the wonder that is the barrow downs on its birthday. I commend you for keeping this site a welcoming, friendly community of people who show utmost respect for one another and are always willing to lend their minds and hands to those in need of them. I have never found a more enjoyable or kind community of people (and mods!) in all my years exploring both the internet and the real world. It is only because of your care in keeping this site a wonderful place to be that it is so wonderful. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Miss (soon to be Mrs.) Ithaeliel

Durelin · 05-09-2006, 04:12 PM

The next card was indeed not even a card, but a small parcel cleverly disguised as a card, the strings that tied the tiny package together blending in perfectly with the paper wrappings. The Barrow-Wight did not hesitate in opening it, of course completely unaware of certain scares about mysterious parcels, and especially indifferent due to the face that he was already dead. Mortality is no long a concern once you're a Wight. And yet a man in yellow boots can still be bothersome. Alas, the life of a Wight is a difficult one, and so each and every card this particular Wight receives on his glorious day of death, when he thought he was only entering into retirement, is more than well deserved.

Untying the strings after his ghostly fingers had found them (I imagine he learned that from Partick Swayze), he deftly unwrapped the package, careful to save the paper.

*KALBANG* came the explosion, as thousands of...something flew at him with extreme force and velocity (which is really redundant, seeing as F=ma).

"Alack!" cried the Barrow-Wight.

But it was only Balrog Wingfetti.

Mithalwen · 05-10-2006, 10:53 AM

something arrived from one of the Downs' noisier tenants. Having skill with neither pencil or mouse she sent a postcard from somewhere near where she dwellt in life and where her fellow residents might feel at home :

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 05-13-2006, 10:32 PM

My Dearest Wights,

It has been with the greatest of pleasure that I have sorted through my mail over the last couple of weeks and found among the various bills, subpoenas, credit card applications, and Netflix DVDs a variety of wondrous birthday cards, every one an artistic treasure and a touching memento that I will treasure forever. Even now they lie in the barrow, stashed among my other valuables, where they will remain until the next band of filthy hobbits drops by and wrecks the place.

To show my gratitude for the well wishes, I thought I might comment on each visual card that I received.

Hookbill, most favored Goomba, your collage is both beautiful and disturbing. The good professor looking stoically on at “Happy Barrow, Birthday Downs”, shadowy wingy things, and rolling mountains is as inspiring as it is weird. Great card!

Taralphiel, I nearly cried when I saw your wonderful card. Someday you can join me here in the barrow and light a little candle of your own.

Celuien, I’ve seen that sign before and recommend everyone follow it. Though it looks like it points off into the hills, it really leads to everlasting fun and frolicking. Yes, lots of it! Thanks for showing everyone the way.

WestWood, I love green cake. Who doesn’t?

TheSaucepanMan, a green ribbon! For me? Awesome! I take Worst Place!

Valesse, thank you for the card, but Skwerlz is spelled with a Z. What were you and Mr. Seacrest thinking!?

Encaitare, it’s very creepy that you know exactly what I’m wearing right now (and always when I’m in the barrow). I’m getting a restraining order.

Lalaith, I hope that’s miruvor!

poisenniel, every time I see that picture I fantasize that the precariously leaning megalith suddenly topples and squishes those troublesome hobbits. Is that wrong of me?

Guinevere, I need a Tengwar tutor.

dancing spawn of ungoliant, Aaaaachoooooo! Thanks a lot. It’s allergy season.

wilwarin538, butterflies are cool…

Thinlómien, …. but penguins are cooler. Get it!? Cooler! As in Antarctica cooler. Ha! Oh, man, I’ve had too much birthday cake.

Sleepy Ranger, that is appalling. It’s like a karaoke performance in a bar. At this level of the competition you have got to be special, and it wasn’t. I think you just got a plane ticket home. (just kidding, cool card!)

Mithalwen, what is that, some kind of fantasy island. There’s no such place!

If I missed anyone, I’ll get you next year, so don’t miss it.

Thank you everyone for being such great forum members. I greatly appreciate your cards and well wishes!

Sincerely,

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-14-2006, 11:22 AM

With those thoughts, the Barrow-Wight turned the empty mailbag upside down and shook out the dust that had settled on it during the days he had needed to read all of his birthday greetings. And lo! one last envelope fell out. He opened it curiously and this is what he saw:

Quote:

It's the Barrow-Downs forum's birthday!

Nothing speculative about that - it's the truth! I may not have been there when it all started, but I have seen the old barrows and read the first posts. I wonder if the forum's ghost is still visible on E-Z-Board...

I did, and look what I found!
The very first Barrow-Downs forum!
Ah, those were the days - every topic was new and fresh, no need for warnings such as this:

The members were literate and intelligent and wouldn't have dreamed of mangling the English language like some have since...

There was so much Tolkien to discuss that the skwerlz were pacifists -

And even the chat room was busy almost constantly!

Alas, it seems that chat room and forum have merged these days:

Yes, some things have changed, but one thing has stayed the same: This is the best Tolkien barrow on the internet - friendly, interesting, fun, intelligent, and as varied as its members. Many thanks to you, Barrow-Wight, and to all of the administrators, moderators and members who make it what it is. May it live on for as long as people love to read Tolkien's works and exchange opinions about them! And may our memories of the good times we've had here never fade...

The Ghostly Princess

Guinevere · 05-15-2006, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Guinevere, I need a Tengwar tutor.

For the benefit of the BW, whose precious time I don't want to waste (and for the curiosity of all others who don't think it's fun to decipher strange letters)

here is the translation to the Tengwar greeting in my original post (#30)

Quote:

Dear Barrow Wight,
this is just to wish you many happy returns of the day.
Thank you so much for keeping this site,
may the Downs prosper for many years to come!
Guinevere

zifnab · 05-15-2006, 09:27 PM

From our birthday, until we die,
Is but the winking of an eye. - William Butler Yeats

What can I say? 'Better late, then never'. So let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words. And a heartfelt and well deserved congratulations to Esty, for using such a devise act which allowed me to fall through her aperture. Great opening post, Esty.

05-07-2006, 08:12 PM	#1
Ithaeliel Cornus Caliga Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Five-hundred-twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes from here Posts: 710	Happy (belated) birthday! Ithaeliel, alack, had been roaming the cruel, treacherous 'real world' apart from the beatific Barrow Downs for too long a time... upon her return, she felt it necessary and proper to give her regards to the esteemed and oft-worshipped owner and originator of the splendid site which used to happily occupy so much of her time. She wished she had more to offer, but had written her birthday greeting in an impromptu manner. The wight pulled out the simple scrap of paper and read the green-inked words: Dear Mr. Splendidly Sinister B-W, I send my fondest wishes to you and to the wonder that is the barrow downs on its birthday. I commend you for keeping this site a welcoming, friendly community of people who show utmost respect for one another and are always willing to lend their minds and hands to those in need of them. I have never found a more enjoyable or kind community of people (and mods!) in all my years exploring both the internet and the real world. It is only because of your care in keeping this site a wonderful place to be that it is so wonderful. Thank you. Sincerely, Miss (soon to be Mrs.) Ithaeliel __________________ That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth

05-13-2006, 10:32 PM	#4
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	I've got mail! My Dearest Wights, It has been with the greatest of pleasure that I have sorted through my mail over the last couple of weeks and found among the various bills, subpoenas, credit card applications, and Netflix DVDs a variety of wondrous birthday cards, every one an artistic treasure and a touching memento that I will treasure forever. Even now they lie in the barrow, stashed among my other valuables, where they will remain until the next band of filthy hobbits drops by and wrecks the place. To show my gratitude for the well wishes, I thought I might comment on each visual card that I received. Hookbill, most favored Goomba, your collage is both beautiful and disturbing. The good professor looking stoically on at “Happy Barrow, Birthday Downs”, shadowy wingy things, and rolling mountains is as inspiring as it is weird. Great card! Taralphiel, I nearly cried when I saw your wonderful card. Someday you can join me here in the barrow and light a little candle of your own. Celuien, I’ve seen that sign before and recommend everyone follow it. Though it looks like it points off into the hills, it really leads to everlasting fun and frolicking. Yes, lots of it! Thanks for showing everyone the way. WestWood, I love green cake. Who doesn’t? TheSaucepanMan, a green ribbon! For me? Awesome! I take Worst Place! Valesse, thank you for the card, but Skwerlz is spelled with a Z. What were you and Mr. Seacrest thinking!? Encaitare, it’s very creepy that you know exactly what I’m wearing right now (and always when I’m in the barrow). I’m getting a restraining order. Lalaith, I hope that’s miruvor! poisenniel, every time I see that picture I fantasize that the precariously leaning megalith suddenly topples and squishes those troublesome hobbits. Is that wrong of me? Guinevere, I need a Tengwar tutor. dancing spawn of ungoliant, Aaaaachoooooo! Thanks a lot. It’s allergy season. wilwarin538, butterflies are cool… Thinlómien, …. but penguins are cooler. Get it!? Cooler! As in Antarctica cooler. Ha! Oh, man, I’ve had too much birthday cake. Sleepy Ranger, that is appalling. It’s like a karaoke performance in a bar. At this level of the competition you have got to be special, and it wasn’t. I think you just got a plane ticket home. (just kidding, cool card!) Mithalwen, what is that, some kind of fantasy island. There’s no such place! If I missed anyone, I’ll get you next year, so don’t miss it. Thank you everyone for being such great forum members. I greatly appreciate your cards and well wishes! Sincerely, __________________ The Barrow-Wight

05-15-2006, 09:27 PM	#7
zifnab Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: omni-presence Posts: 329	I'a'int a jumpin' outta no cake! From our birthday, until we die, Is but the winking of an eye. - William Butler Yeats What can I say? 'Better late, then never'. So let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words. And a heartfelt and well deserved congratulations to Esty, for using such a devise act which allowed me to fall through her aperture. Great opening post, Esty. __________________ Facebook.

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05-09-2006, 04:12 PM	#2
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	The next card was indeed not even a card, but a small parcel cleverly disguised as a card, the strings that tied the tiny package together blending in perfectly with the paper wrappings. The Barrow-Wight did not hesitate in opening it, of course completely unaware of certain scares about mysterious parcels, and especially indifferent due to the face that he was already dead. Mortality is no long a concern once you're a Wight. And yet a man in yellow boots can still be bothersome. Alas, the life of a Wight is a difficult one, and so each and every card this particular Wight receives on his glorious day of death, when he thought he was only entering into retirement, is more than well deserved. Untying the strings after his ghostly fingers had found them (I imagine he learned that from Partick Swayze), he deftly unwrapped the package, careful to save the paper. *KALBANG* came the explosion, as thousands of...something flew at him with extreme force and velocity (which is really redundant, seeing as F=ma). "Alack!" cried the Barrow-Wight. But it was only Balrog Wingfetti.

05-10-2006, 10:53 AM	#3
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	A good week late ... something arrived from one of the Downs' noisier tenants. Having skill with neither pencil or mouse she sent a postcard from somewhere near where she dwellt in life and where her fellow residents might feel at home : __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace