::His hand curls easily, comfortably, around the warm brass knob etched with a tree. Twisting it slowly he feels the aged but perfectly maintained mechanism within the door catch and retract. The boot-worn floor of the tavern he once frequented spreads out at his feet before the swinging pine panel and old, friendly faces turn. "You always remember family."::
Hello friends. =]
It's been quite a while, but "while"s are measured in different lengths by different people... I stopped in to the family page for the first time in a year after getting the newsletter in my email (which I always read though you would never know...lol) and my login worked(!): It's not my fault that you kind folks never recollect your lent keys, though I don't think the door was locked in any fashion judging by some of the fine people still running things - so thanks for keeping me around if at least in spirit.
I took a "sabbatical" from WAR (in Du Mintai with the family)and MMO gaming in general, as Foghladha and Vampiresbane, Helore and Stoat, and many others may remember, to kind of "tidy-up loose ends" of my life that I thought were a bit frayed. I intended to lose a bit of weight and lead a newer, healthy life by 30 (I did. Lost 90 lbs and changed my lifestyle, along with my life, and now have fitness and powerlifting as part of daily life). I intended to catch-up on some writing I never did and some dreams I never chased (I did both; to a great degree of personal growth, achievement and advancement, though I'm still working on the "professional" and "paid" parts of it...lol) And I intended to make sure I knew where, and what I was going and doing with my life (I did: physically, philosophically, and principally - in so far as much as one can possibly do with some divine knowledge or portent. ;] ) So, summarily, I did the things I set out to do in most part, and I had said I would stop in at some point and say "Hello!" if people were still around and remembered.
This is "Hello!" It's also me saying "Thanks for being great friends and a great gaming family that little ways back. I'm sure it helped me, in part, achieve some things and, in part, just give me nostalgia to enjoy with a newsletter I often forgot that I received."
On top of that, Congratulations to VampiresBane for rising so high (there doesn't seem to be any higher at this point) within the family. I have no doubt that his position is duly deserved and earned through his contributions. I have fond memories of friendship with VampiresBane in our "early" days of Warrior-Priesting and stewardship on RvR guild nights, as well as just idle chatter on vent when it was just the two of us. Well-earned rewards are well-deserved.
Foghladha has always been an awesomely organized, patient, and proficient guild patriarch and leader, and I'm glad to see that things are still going well for the group(s) that are underneath the banner of the Gaiscioch (both in games and in RL it seems). Great job, sir. I'm glad I "know" you.
I did get back into MMO for a short bit last year with WoW and my brothers and best friend (right before Cataclysm for a few months, and then shortly after its release) as well as WAR; but it didn't hold the same interest as before. Maybe it was the game, maybe it was the people, maybe it just wasn't time yet. Who knows... I hang around the XboXlive scene some nowadays when I'm not busy with the two kids or working at night playing when I can (not so often anymore, lol) on Battlefield3 at times, and at others on Might&Magic: Clash of Heroes and PuzzleQuest2 now. If anyone wants to friend me my gamertag is: MuddSL1NG3R.
Thanks for keeping on keeping on with what you guys do. It shows that "gamers", and the gaming community, can have good people having a good time making good changes in good ways for all of us. I can't (and won't lol) get Rift and hang out with you guys; but... maybe GuildWars2 could be another story. I'm sure there will be a slot for a Solemnus somewhere. There always was.
Thanks for keeping my spot.
You only know how short the road is after you've walked it and looked back.
Fair travels, friends. Keep me posted and I'll do my best to see if I can maybe visit and contribute more often in the future.
Cory (Solemnus)