AS established, _vfp.activeForm is a reference to the active form in VFP. Called from the load() event thisform and _vfp.activeForm will not refere to the same form. You are creating your object in the activeform not the form being instantiated.

The load event is fired before the init() event so the form does not yet exist. To demonstrate this in the load() event place :
?_vfp.activeform.name
?thisform.name

HTH