Obviously I'm very late to this unhappy party...yet I'm also kind of not.
I actually came to the forums the day you posted this, Drake, and I found that I didn't know what to say. Same thing when I came back the next day. And the day after that. Somehow, a simple "goodbye" didn't seem to fit.
Then I became ashamed it had already been a couple days with no word, so I fretted on what to say about THAT. And then I became ashamed of appearing at all, so I not only stopped posting, but stopped even logging in for fear of being seen and asked "why haven't you said anything yet?" All baseless fears, I know, but they've been there regardless.
So now, I limp back here, far too late, and find that I still don't know what to say. I'm surprised at how much of a gut shot this loss has been to me. I mean, we've lost a lot in the community already, from other beloved members like Anxious Chieftain and kertrats and corvus and Shieldmaiden, to our beloved former forums at CobraCards, to our beloved game itself. I've taken those all in stride, so why was one more old-timer's departure hitting me so hard?
I think I've finally figured that out. There are many people that I have have connected with in this community, and many I can relate to. But there are only a select few I would truly call my friends. Drake is one of those. It's funny, but I don't really have that list of friends really sorted out, and I guess I don't even know everyone that's on it until something like this happens and something in the deep recesses of my mind flashes like a red alert...and the rest of me hurts.
Perhaps that's all I need to say...that it hurts to see you go, Drake. It truly does. I know we might still catch each other over the internet, wonderful invention that it is for things like that. But it's more than just that. The hole you're leaving in this community is much bigger than most, and I think I'm still figuring out just HOW big. Unlike most, you haven't been dominant in DCs (though you were a big force when you put your mind to it), or the most widely recognized gaming sensation (though you certainly kicked
my tail sometimes), or the greatest deck or article maker of all time (though you had some great ones). I don't mean all this to say you weren't good at anything...quite the opposite, in fact. While most of us are known for being proficient in one or two areas and in a particular forum or two, you were good at
everything, and you were a
part of everything. You were in the thick of discussion and debate in all the forums, and everyone here knew and liked you. There aren't many people here or elsewhere, myself included, that can say that. It didn't hurt that you're so personable, gracious in everything you do (even when kicking my butt in SdA), and gosh-darn likable.
Maybe I knew what to say after all.
I know you likely won't see this, and that's okay, since I intend to send you an e-mail this weekend with this and more. But just know that we really miss you already, man.
I miss you.
I wish you the best in the future, dude, and hopefully your all-powerful girlfriend will continue to be a part of it for a LONG time to come. She must be pretty great to be pulling you away from us. This place is like a black hole, and I passed the event horizon a LONG time ago, even though sometimes it might SEEM like I've "escaped".
(I mean all that in a good way, by the way, guys.
)
So, goodbye (for now), happy trails, and of course, wes ðu hal, vinr.
Topic: Been a long time... (Read 2825 times)
