Oh dear, everyone... all your messages are heart-felt.
I miss you all - and yes, as some of you have picked up on, I will continue to miss you for a while yet. The most important thing I have to tell you is that I want you all to remember my vision for this place - perhaps for some of you it will have no significance at all but I built this place on only a couple of principles and almost of all of you will be able to testify to their success (especially those of you who I personally invited here, of which there are... well, quite a few!).
Always remember that this place is a community. You rely on each other - your attitudes, your presence, your conversation - to maintain this place. It may not seem apparent at times but I can assure you it is true. So build each other up and strengthen the community - you will reap the rewards. Sometimes immediately, other times after several months. It was certainly the latter case when HLP's community was just starting out and I spent hours hand-typing personal invitations to people to come, days writing up emails to encourage, educate, and teach others. But it is all for the better in the end. Just have a little patience.
And for you newbies - perhaps you do not all realise the place you have entered. But with the great privelige of being in this amazing (well, I think so) community and institution, you have a responsibility too. I will let you find it yourself, since in my experience it happens to be different for almost everyone - but be assured that this place does require work, and once the work is in the system, you will gain respect and reputation. Do not abuse it once you have it. And never be discouraged - always pursue it, always persevere. Everyone else - make the path easier for them, because they will be your fellow soldiers.
I have holidays now - fourteen days. Hopefully I can keep appearing every few days, if not more frequently - but if I do disappear without notice for a short while, you'll know what to think. I'm afraid to say it, but don't hold your breaths.
Lastly, some personal words.
KT, that is a very impressive lego model... even complete with Arrays.
Thank you for your efforts. (PS. If you have no flash... find a bright desk lamp and use that.)
Su! I know how you feel, friend. That prelim site looks quite impressive at the moment... and yes, of course I remember RaaHP. I made the crappy alpha site, remember?
Sandwich, I saw your song. As it happens, I've heard that song hundreds of times before - I own the CD. Third Day plays a lot over here in Australia. It's a nice song! But if people are complaining about your behaviour concerning me - let them have their way, and stop honouring me. Perhaps you think I'm a person who deserves honour, but I'm no different to any of you. You of all will understand the truth in that most, Mike. So don't sweat about it.
To everyone dedicating their time to FreeSpace projects hosted and not hosted on HLP. Thank you. I was hoping that activity would continue when I next peeked back in here - and so it is. I hope it keeps going forever... well, till FS3, at least. And we all know how long that will be.
Oh, dear. I'm going to become addicted to this place again, aren't I?
