Hello, Fellow Spraguers! I heard Jessica's call for more back stories from the swing set and thought I'd heed it. Why do I scrap, you ask? Well, there's a funny story attached to that.

I remember when the new strip mall went in across the street from us and one of the stores about to open was called "Scrapbook Magic". Scrapbooks? Who's going to use that? (I'm a guy, remember. Forgive me.)

It wasn't long after that day (the 31st of October 2004 actually), when the lighting bolt hit me. I invited a bunch of friends together for a Murder Mystery party and asked them to dress up in 50's garb. The pictures of poodle skirts and leather jackets and slicked back hair came out so fantastic that I knew I had to do something special with them instead of just throwing them into another magnetic album.

It occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, that scrapbook store might have something for me. So I ventured into those previously demeaned doors and touched my first Bazzil paper. $4,000 later I knew I was hooked. Now, now, pick your jaws up from the floor. I didn't spend that all at once. But I did a tally at the end of my first year of fanatical scrapping and it was up to that height. Yeah, I couldn't believe it either.

But after that year I looked back at all that I had accomplished. All of my shoeboxes were now empty of photographs and could be used for other purposes, like, well, bills. My precious childhood photos from the 70's were no longer being eaten away from harmful chemicals, but are in organized storage boxes. Three big books were filled with my creations, layout upon layout that celebrated my life. I had been published in three different magazines. And most of all I found a bunch of women who were as crazy about sharing memories as I was becoming.

Another new obsession came about after that. Online chatting. Yep, didn't see that coming; did you? I was meeting people left and right who enjoyed life as much as I do. We got a little group going and began our monthly meetings in person, mind you. A great bunch of people we affectionately called the Georgia Peaches. We made the local scrapbook store rounds and even did a road trip to Alabama for some sacred shopping. Fantastic friends to this day, each and every one.

Being one of a handful of men who scrapbook didn't make my entry into this world easy. There were arguments about whether or not to even invite me to attend real world scrap events. Discussions were had about how I could be a perv just waiting to take advantage of a roomful of unsuspecting women. Once they weighed my merits and watched me closely in the chatroom for seven months, they agreed to meet as a group in some place extremely public--Starbucks. Thankfully, my personality won them over and they saw how harmless I really was. Strong bonds grew from there.

Oh, being male does have its perks in this arena. Don't get me wrong. I stick out like a sore thumb in a car door. It makes me instantly recognizable and awards me semi-tabloid status. No need to toot my own horn, but I do enjoy the lifestyle of the not so rich and definitely infamous.

Scrapbooking opened up new doors for me creatively. I tried a lot of different crafts, painting, cross stitch, quilting, embroidery, piano. Yet never could get it exactly right. I needed something different. Something that allowed me to express myself easily and that I felt I was good at. Scrapping does all of that and more.

But I harbored a secret. One I was reluctant to share with my paper and tactile embellishment friends. I had discovered an even better way to scrap. One that didn't cost so much or make me panic when I didn't have the right paper for a layout. One that didn't make me nervous, wondering what to do. One that made me feel I could SCRAP just like you (sorry, that came out of nowhere). I was a closet digi scrapper.

I made the transition quickly and found time beyond my Peaches to enter a new set of friends. I became a member of the Spraground. Oh, and how very happy I was. Talking and hanging out with so many awesome and talented people made me want to reveal my secret.

I still remember the first time I brought my laptop to a Peach Greet. There was shock at first. Some incredulous staring. But they slowly came around once they realized how little room I took up at the table. Soon everyone wanted to sit next to me so that they could spread out. My friends accepted my new passion and some even began a little hybrid testing. One I completely transformed to the dark side. Mwhahahaha. Not mentioning any names (Hi, Meg!), for I would never reveal another's secrets.

Here I am five years later still scrapbooking. Still meeting new people. Still trying to save money to attend digital scrapbooking experiences. Still taking many pictures. Still loving every minute of it. Eagerly awaiting what is to come next.

Note: Gary's secret code name on our forum boards is scrappyguy. :D