Perhaps I should have done this from the start. At the time I worried that it might look as though I was seeking attention. I haven’t really even been lurking—just occasionally glancing in to see that everybody was still here. Now I’ve found that I’ve received a PM from a fellow IMWANner wondering whether I was okay (That was very sweet, BTW!). I don’t want people worrying about me, so maybe it’s best that I explain.

A couple of personal crises in 2008-2009 led me to start examining my life, and what I believed, in ways that I had not done before. I’ve shared some of that here at IMWAN. Linda graciously gave me the odd privilege of letting the Writers’ Block serve as a sort of guest blog. I’ve really enjoyed having that outlet, as I’ve moved from the worst year of my life to the best years so far. It has also been a lot of fun just being an IMWANner, posting my reviews, and reading what others had to say about stuff, and joking and kidding around with some online friends.

Over the last couple of years I’ve felt that I had less and less to contribute to the party. At the same time, I’ve felt a need to continue posting. Though it’s hard to explain, I’ve had a sense that God wanted me to continue saying what I had to say here. Why, I don’t really know. I suppose it was some combination of needing to learn about some things I saw here from others, and others perhaps needing to see what I had to say.

One day in May I suddenly no longer had that need. Nobody here has hurt my feelings or made me feel unwelcome. I’m not undergoing any notable upheavals in my life. Actually I’m doing fine and staying busy. I just had this sense that the time had come to bow out. It was as if I no longer had anything to say here, and no motivation to say it.

There’s a quite enjoyable (Seriously—it’s one of the most fun series I’ve ever watched!) anime called “Log Horizon,” in which thousands of players in a fantasy-oriented MMORPG suddenly find themselves living in a real world just like the world of the game, with real monsters and real gamer skills and abilities. The series protagonist finds himself exchanging the amusements of the online world for the hard work of trying to build up a real -world community. In a way, that is what has happened to me over the last few years. I’ve come out of the shell I withdrew into when life went wrong, and become a more involved part of the town in which I live. That’s the place where I’m really meant to be living my life and applying my efforts.

So I quietly stopped posting. Which may have been a mistake. IMWAN is a place where people care about each other. My sudden, prolonged absence may have worried some folks. I’m sorry if that is the case. The virtual world of message boards is an environment whose etiquette I’ve never quite mastered. That might be one reason why it’s just as well I’m moving on. And I really feel that it is a moving on, and not just a sabbatical from posting like I’ve taken in the past.

I’ve enjoyed my time at IMWAN. I love each of you here. Thank you for letting me be part of this community, and reading my reviews, and essays, and stories (The “Daphneverse” stuff was pure fun to write! Wish I could see it turned into comics—but I just can’t draw….). I still think about you all some, and pray for you sometimes. I wish you and your families all well in your lives.

Daphne my love, our love, back to you.

+100000 Come back any time!

It has been a pleasure knowing you on Imwan, and dont hesitate to come back. I take long hiatuses and every time i return I find the same open, loving and welcoming environment.

all the best,
Todd

I was a little worried, but could see you were still logging in when I periodically checked your profile for your last date visited. I just figured you were busy with something to get too deep into a conversation.

I'm sorry you'll not be here anymore, but glad you're doing what you feel is best for you. When it's time, it's time.

I wish you luck and happiness in all you do, and if you ever feel like a short or lengthier return, if I'm still here, I'm sure I'll be happy to see you again.

Be happy.

It's a funny thing about online life. We are here and then we aren't and when we aren't, usually nobody knows why. Thanks for the coda. I always found your posts thoughtful. I hope you feel the need to meddle again some day.

I always feel kind of bad when someone who used to post prolifically shows up years after having posted for the last time, and I never realized they had left. I'm bad at keeping up relationships in real life as well.