Thank Grog It’s the Last Firday!
It’s not easy to step away from something that has been a part of your life for almost 8 years. I mean, that’s like 50 years in Internet Time! In all honesty, I already have a sense of relief, along with a smattering of “OMG!!! What have I done?” But, a smattering at my age, lasts about as long as it takes to book a tee time online.
In the end, it isn’t really about the game. Not by a long shot. It is about the community that grew from the game, and the relationships that will last well beyond the “final tap.” There are TONS of people…real people…with whom I have become friends, who are longtime supporters of what we tried to do here.
I have my detractors. It’s going to happen in a world divided in so many ways by politics, religion, social causes, and doing what’s right, even in the face of criticism. But, the fact is, I’ve never cared much about “keeping everyone happy.” The result was predictable. I have my “true fans,” as well as a handful of bona-fide “Patric Haters.” I take the good with the bad.
This is complicated by the fact that we all play a game (some far more than others) that is silly, by any measurement. But, we all know that. If you do something for 8 years of your life, and find yourself defending it to friends and family, you really do need to take a look at your motivations.
But, as I have said repeatedly, my motivations for continuing to play, write and battle, have little to do with the game, and far more to do with the community.
And, it is that network of friends that will get the rest of my attention in this final post.