Yet here I am.

I've said it many, many times but as a franchise, Halo is my Star Wars. I'm always, ALWAYS going to be a fan.

But this site is even more valuable to me.

I've made meaningful friendships that never would have happened otherwise.

I've met many of you in person.

I've lived the dream of attending several HBO member LANs.

I've lived the dream of hosting my OWN HBO LAN with many of those same people.

I've found passion and purpose with being an artist again, by this site and what others created, that pushed me to create. Taking something virtual and making it physical.... becoming my Combat Evolved avatar in cosplay. I found the 405th.

I found friends in THAT circle that I keep contact with.

Being privileged and honored to have my art added to 343's museum, contributing back to a community that's given me so much.

I've driven so many road trips listening to the ODST soundtrack.

I made an awful montage that still exists of our best Reach fails and wins.

I put faces to names.

Goddamit, I've had "internet people" at my wedding. I had more friends from HBO than I did from anywhere else there.

If it wasn't for this site, I wouldn't have had such a blast through high school and college. NONE of that time, staying up way too late playing Halo was EVER a waste.

I get Christmas cards from HBO members every year even though I'm a piece of shit that never sends one back.

I met Paddy and bonded over music. We're seeing Iron Maiden this fall. Isn't that wild?

I met Bones and found someone to talk about just, EVERYTHING with. We don't talk much these days. I miss him dearly, but he's still around and even if we've grown apart from "halo" I still cherish all those awful memes.

I met Korny and Sammy and still talk them all the time.

Bluerunner's never ending stories. Kermit's never ending kindness.

When any of us travel, we often contact each other and try to meet up, if only for lunch. That's powerful.

Because of this site I got to go to friggin' Bungie AND 343 studios thanks to Tex.

Fuck, Nart's post, I WAS THERE FOR SOME OF THAT STUFF. WE MADE CLAUDE SUFFER THROUGH KARAOKE. GOT 'EMMM.

I hate that I'm an "adult" now. I hate that I don't have time to game like I used to. I hate that there have been a few community events I've been invited to and had to decline. I hate having feelings like the golden days are gone.

Because they are not.

I'm saving for a house. You better be damn sure that one of the driving factors for this house, this giant symbol of "adulthood" is that whether or not I can host LANs there. Because I'm not done. I'm not done being a kid. I will game again.

Can't stop won't stop.

So, thanks Claude. Thanks for everything you've done for me personally, be it direct or indirect. Thanks for being the conduit and connection for meeting some of the best friends I've ever had. Thanks for letting me crash at your place one time when I needed it. Thanks for being .... just a really fucking cool guy. You're a fantastic role model, and everything I aspire to be when it comes to 'community guy'.

I can't wait to game with you all again soon.