I am not a fan of the books, but I like the movies of Harry Potter. Largely from the fact it was the cast IRL that the Avengers would be if they were all actors. I vaguely remember a quote from a character, that was said of underestimating the unfailing kindness of others.
For decades, for, I guess just around twenty years, my modus operandi on RPoL has been, ad for a game and see who is interested in that. Just this past year, I find my philosophy to have changed, back to where it started. Long story short, my mother thought D&D was satanic (for context she's so superstitious she soon after joined a Mormon cult). I had no friends for a time, and one I had introduced me to D&D. When he moved out of State, he introduced me to his gaming group. When I first sat at the table with whom would be a 19 year face to face group, and contemplated the consequence of engaging in D&D, I did so because I sought fellowship. It didn't matter, I later realized in words, what I was doing, but who I was doing it with, and that we had something to do together, to cooperate in. I love games, but I LOVE games that are about cooperation.
All this, the above, has had me full circle seeing about trying new games, with people who I flourish in the company of. Unfailingly kind and considerate people. I still want to have games that are dedicated to the particular gamecraft, but I learned that I want to branch out, not for the gamesake, but for having the same shared activity.
Face to face friends were also shown for their true colors. There's a Tyler Perry Madea speech in a video I'll link, that I discovered about ten months ago. I wish I had clipped it, but thankfully I found the exact video, complete with the tone enhancing music and imagery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnzhbI_Egek
The people who were ugly, the people who said "If you need anything, let me know"....this ordeal showed me where they are on the tree. In one profound sentence; these were strangers who gave their heart and time to aid me, and these were life long company that left when my fire consumed all light. That part is my own quote, but it could be said so many ways. The people who were ugly to me, did me a
favor. If in bad times they act this way, they told me I never want to waste a moment of good with them. I really mean this. It helped me let go of leaves in the wind, and surrender my stubborn nature to go out of a limb, when I could instead form a chain of hand in hand contact with the forest the endures the seasons, years and lifetimes.
I have a friend I need to help. I won't put that all here, but they're on RPoL. They lost their home, they lost their income, they lost a family member, and in that moment they're losing their home again. They suffered through injury and surgery, and found the time for me. I want to find a way,
my path,
their way, to help them.
I am, however, going to return to rejoice for what I now have. My motivation, my driving force, my axiom of pursuit is having a home; one no one can take away. I want that, so that I can have company, and share time with people I love. I don't have permanent home yet, but one that will be stable and is showing remarkable aid, despite circumstances being far from ideal. Roses don't grow from gold, if you catch the scent. I'm just so very happy, so very, very happy! My closest friends stayed closer than ever. My closest face to face friend put me through an ordeal that frequently had me choose money, comfort...or company. I chose her. At times I wanted to walk away, at times she fled in fear. At times she wanted to leave this world. In times I told her I could not stop her, but I asked if she would stay, not for me, but for what I knew would come.
I'm also so much owing my survival to RPoL. An escape, pipeline, and lifeline.
:D *grins* makes me SOOOO giddy people are cheering with me! Makes me feel warm and fuzzy, and I laugh with joy and appreciation.
One thing, one tiny thing that grew and grew until it was a field, was dancing! I am on the ground floor in the apartment, so much so, I'm actually in a hill. My neighbors above have loud (sort of...) music or TV on weekends, but this isn't bad thing. It means that when I have my music loud enough to hear in the bedroom, they'll probably tolerate it, as I have their own sounds. So I danced. Put on music and just danced, danced like no one was watching. Then I danced with Anne, the face to face friend I went through all this with. The place is mostly empty, so we, without touching, stood in the same room and just danced to music we loved.
