People Come and Go. So make the most of every minute.

(These are photos of me and my closest friends after we haven't see one another for 4 years, except Sarah my best mate of course as I never lost contact with her:)


Two Sundays ago, I met the first WOW people I have played with. They were James' school mates whom he haven't seen for 3 years. I contemplated going with them for a meal. I thought I should give them time and space to catch up without the awkwardness of having to include me in the conversation. But then I thought if i didn't go, they might think I'm a snob. In the end I decided to go. I wanted to meet them as well. It was Will, James' bestmate from school who booked the table at Frankie & Benny's and also served as taxi service for the night =)
Very punctual as British people are (very different from Pinoys!) he arrived to collect us 15 miutes early and then we went to collect Mark. It's a shame Mark's sister had the flu, I wanted to come in and have a minute with his dog and his cat! I was disappointed.

As I sat across Mark and in between Will and James I found that I didn't feel uncomfortable or uneasy at all. Will was cracking jokes all the time and he never wiped the smile off his face. I felt like I was in a dream. I was there in the flesh with two people that for the longest time I only known as Kihvi the rogue and Aoetsu the hunter. You might think I am a basketcase for feeling this way, after all they are not celebrities. They are just people who enjoy the same online game as I do. But you wouldn't know would you? You aren't me.

I've been playing this game for almost four years now, and I met many people. I quit for a few months but not completely. I sometimes wonder if I am real or if I'm just a virtual character, like Foxychick. I'd like to be her, she's epic and a leader and co-manages a guild. She's confident with her bow and her pet with her all the time, not to mention her long night elf legs. I've played with so many people in WOW and made a few close ties. A few days ago a recent friend I have been playing with and speaking to on TS wrote me an ingame mail saying he's quit the game to sort out some real life stuff. I was really bummed by this. He was a really nice kid, always giggly and a joker on TS. He got me to speak on TS which I haven't done in 3 years. Back in vanilla WOW, I spoke (on TS) all but twice in our 40-man raid because I had to say I got DC'd in game.

I'm starting to think I have this effect on people. Every one I get close with on WOW quits. There were a few in vanilla WOW, but the ones I was closest to were: Cyb the druid, Stian IRL. He is now studying to become a doctor. Ironclad the druid, Jes IRL. He is a new daddy and is busy with his little boy. Helos, the warrior (Filipino bloke living in Holland), I haven't heard from him for a while since we only have contact through MySpace and I have deleted my Myspace account because I am everywhere on the internet. Seeza, the warlock who is now living and working abroad. There's Sodas the Paladin who has quit the game because he got a new job and pursuing his studies at the same time. Then there's Plue the Paladin but I don't think he quit. I think he's now palying his horde character. And recently Shakenbake, the paladin. He says he is sorting out some RL stuff so I wish him luck with that.

WOW is no different from RL in some ways. People come and go. I've learned to accept that but I still can't help missing the people who have gone. They leave permanent marks in my WOW and RL heart.