It's my 13th anniversary in Gothador and it seems so strange...strange because I remember how vibrant and active both the game itself and this community were. Now, the game is a ghost town and these forums are like an old, empty mansion...silent except for the occasional whisper of a Phantom passing through. Rooms haunted by memories of the people who passed into my life because of it--some of whom remain, and some who have passed on.
I could suppose that it's the morbid fascination with old, broken things--like derelict ships or abandoned trains--that keep me coming back (there's little reason to actually play anymore, except that I still love my characters), but truth be told it is that I am grateful.
There's another funny word. Grateful. Growing up, I spelled it "greatfull". It just made more sense to me that one was 'full of great emotion', rather than full of "aframeofmetalbarsforholdingfuelwhenburning,asinafireplace,furnace,orstove". Heh. Anyway...
If it weren't for this place, there is so much I would have missed out on. I surely wouldn't be writing in my own Universe. I wouldn't have been blessed with my life-partner. There would be no memories of Andor's humor, and no conversations with Frank. And no delight in knowing that two of the games I now play will never hold a candle to Gothador in its heyday.
So happy anniversary to me, in this strange and formerly wonderful place. It's been grate. Er...great.