My final gift to you all...

Since this may be my last post on these boards, I just felt the need to express myself in the only way I can right now. This game has been the place where my wife and I hang our hats every day for the past 8 years. Other than my very old naming guide, I feel I have contributed little more than occupying server space and helping to populate the world. In just a couple of months, I am going to loose over 200 of my closest confidants (Frack you ALTITIS!!!!), and the main reason I have managed to avoid anti-depressants (guess it is back to therapy for me... :P ). Other than my once-every-2-year craving to play through my RTS library (Starcraft, Star Trek:Armada I & II, Battle for Middle Earth also I & II, and Star Wars: Empire at War) this has been my main video game since 2004. My base is my home, my hobby is crafting IO's, my other car is a Super Hero... you get the idea.

The point I am very slowly leading to, is that I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have shared with each and every one of you. I spoke once about how I saw myself as the Uncle in the family that just sits back and watches the mess unfold, and only speaks when he has something relevant to say. Well, I have been here on the boards every day like clockwork (King). Keeping watch over you all as if you were my family, because you all are. Where will I go to get a Steelclaw not-list now? How can I deal with not biting my nails waiting for another Samuraiko Video? How can I go another day without ? I want you to know that I love you all, and will miss every day I am away from you. You are always going to be a part of who I am, and will remember every moment shared till my own lights go out for the last time.

Without further delay, I present my last gift to Paragon City and it's entire population of Heroes, Vigilantes, Rogues, Villains, Resistance, and Loyalists.

Last Bastion

I once had found a forest, so lush and full of life.
I built myself a home there, and here I brought my wife.
Upon these lands we planted, and added to the score.
This land we found enriched us, we stayed a while more...

The seeds did grow into a crop.
The trees and plants provided.
Our dwelling spread and did not stop.
We had space where we resided.

I once had found a forest, inside it lived my friends.
Many looked unlike me, and seemed to never end.
With these kind I wandered, and saw amazing things.
I've won in epic combat, and suffered failures stings.

The few had swollen to a crowd.
Of true friends, I've counted many.
Sometimes they made me laugh out loud.
Complaints? Can't think of any.

I once had found a forest, I thought I would remain.
But fate had sent a firestorm, and burnt the home I claimed.
The flames they took hold quickly, before I could react.
We barely made it out on time, before our home was sacked.

The fire consumed all it touched.
My friends were stolen by the flame.
We both are fine to say as such.
No one near to assign the blame.

I once had found a forest, but all that,s left is ash.
Cinders, Soot and Embers, there's nothing here but trash.
I loved my home so deeply, I know it was returned.
Forever heed the moral, another lesson learned.

~`~@

I'll stay till the lights go out, so I am sure to bump into a few of you sometime. But I just wanted to leave you with this last thing...

/jranger