Another year has passed -
I had actually thought that 2022 was already a challenging year for me ... looking back on 2023, I have to revise my view somewhat.
2023 started for me exactly where 2022 ended - with health challenges, restrictions - the big word "post Covid" took a place in my life that I neither expected nor was prepared for. When you can no longer seem to have any influence on your own energy levels, have no strength, are permanently tired, weak and lacking in drive even after hours of sleep, at some point you become very humble. It may sound very funny at first if you simply nod off while standing in the shower or on your bike - but it's anything but funny - it's like a bad joke In fact, it scares you, it paralyses you, it makes you hopeless. And nobody can actually help you.
It's unbearable when you can no longer plan a holiday, a concert or a trip to the cinema in advance because you fall asleep even sitting down - and don't wake up; not after 2 hours, not after 3 hours, not after 6 hours ... - and even in the morning, after 12 hours of sleep, you don't wake up.
2023 ... It started with storm damage to my roof and water seeping in, my uprooted 50-year-old cedar tree that was lying in my neighbour's garden after that storm and it ended with such heavy rainfall that I spent Christmas, New Year and about 85% of my holiday in the cellar pumping out the water that was seeping in. I don't know how many thousands of litres it was - and still is... The water is still seeping in from the excessively wet, sodden soil.
2023 - a year in which I had to give up my deputy management role because it no longer co-operated with my health problems.
2023 - a year in which there were so many crises and environmental disasters worldwide and hatred towards others is still growing. It is questionable to me how open, anti-Semitic demonstrations against Israel can take place on German streets in 2023. Has humanity really learnt nothing at all from the genocide, the Shoah? Did 7 million people really die miserably in vain?
How much longer are we going to watch a Russian subjugating an innocent country, bombing it and killing people? Also: How women are executed in Iran because they want a free, self-determined life?
2023 - a year in which things broke up, friendships ended, understanding dried up - no matter how unexpected and unforeseeable this may have seemed beforehand, you have to live with it and ask yourself how long you have been unconsciously keeping your eyes closed. - The lesson is to learn that we can never be what we would like others to think we are. We can only be what others allow us to be, what they allow, and we have to accept when things come to an end. Even if we hear things that leave us stunned, sad, heartbroken.
In my opinion, it is not possible to simply leave a year behind on New Year's Eve and start again. Experiences spill over, experiences shape us, every crisis is an opportunity to emerge stronger - or to give up.
Every year, no matter how good or how bad, leaves its mark - just as a tree acquires annual rings, so do we learn and grow. Sometimes we need the help of friends who listen to us, encourage us, talk us into a conscience and give us the feeling that we are not complete failures ... Sometimes it helps to be alone, to reflect, to question ourselves. And sometimes it helps to know that not every story ends well, no matter how much we want it to.
I would like to thank:
Gwen - the Magic mouse mum head of the family:
Your friendship was very likely one of the absolute highlights of my year 2023, and in fact it has been since 2007... - May 5, 2023 was still something very special - Finally we met in real life, not just in SL - What a wonderful weekend with you! - Blue October, Berlin, and Gwen. You are always there for me, always available, no matter what media I try. I know you would jump off a bridge for me, if I needed that.
You put up with my worst moods and stubbornness with patience and warm-heartedness - which is second to none. As RL keeps you away from SL for a while now, I do miss you in world - but I am so happy and thankful, that we have the chance to keep track even outside of SL... If I had a sister, I wish she was like you - no, actually, I wish it was you. Thank you, for being you -
Danke fuer alles, was Du fuer mich bist <3
Deshi - forever - my Night Elf Moon Priestess:
I've also known you since around 2007 - The blue skinned night elven moon priestess - even in your character role in Roleplay you stunned me already... And even though we don't speak so often anymore, you have always been and will always be a wonderful friend to me. Your special sense of humor, your helpfulness, your energy are just some of your wonderful qualities. I am very glad that you exist and that we are still in contact after all these years.
Danke fuer deine wundervolle Freundschaft.
Kie:
For two and a half years I have been lucky enough being allowed to call you my friend. Your warmth and kindness are unique, as is the way you keep an eye on me and always ask if I'm okay. Thank you from the bottom of my heart - it means so much more to me than simple words can express. The feeling, someone out there is thinking of me, caring of me, and always sending positive vibes and snowflakes, even in the hot month of August is truly unique and I dont want to miss you ever again.
Thank you for your friendship, my beautiful friend.
Banshee:
You really are something very special. Your talent for juggling words and spinning stories is unique. Keep your warmth, which so often shines through, your laughter, even if the road is sometimes a little bumpier... Fantasy Faire brought us together - like so many lovely encounters I made in that community -
Looking forward for 2024 with you Banshee -
Thank you for being allowed to be your friend.
Dreamsphere:
You have the rare skill to turn someones mood from sad to happy - and are such a source of energy - Like Kie, Elayne and Banshee you are as well someone from the Fantasy Faire encounters, and I dont want to miss it. You always have been caring and inviting to me, you are easy to get along and feel comfy with. Thank you for your open ear always and your feedback and advices.
Thank you for your friendship Dreams.
Elayne:
What to tell about you, else than the obvious already? A wonderful, beautiful person, in every sense of the word. When I talk to you, you are a paragon of energy, friendliness, funny and so wonderfully human. Your appearance reflects all this - to describe it in one word, "fantastic" would probably be the right word - horns, claws, colourful skins, tails, all kinds of colours and shapes - you are all that - fantastic. ... And an energy that even the Duracell bunny would bow down to.
Thank you for your friendship and all the fun!
Peps:
We have been connected for many, many years in SL - even though you were offline for many of those years. Nevertheless, the contact has never been broken off.
You are far too modest, underestimate your strengths and how much you can give to other people - I am very grateful for our friendship, even if we only see each other irregularly and there are always phases in which you retreat into your shell. I'm very excited to see what 2024 has in store for us - thank you for your crazy friendship -
Du bist wunderbar!
Aleph - my monster:
Compared to some of the others on this list, I've only known you since 2023 - but that means that 2023 also brought good and beautiful things.
A simple snapshot led to a conversation, followed by others - a friendship developed in which we certainly didn't always seem to see eye to eye - but that was simply because we hardly knew each other yet. Friendship also means engaging with other opinions and points of view and trying to understand each other.
I thank you for your honesty and always open attitude, also for telling me the things I don't want to hear. Thank you for your opinions, your advice, your endless patience and your composure. You may disagree with me, but I think that I can only and exclusively learn a lot of good things from you. I look forward to 2024 with you .
Obrigado pela vossa amizade muito especial
Allo - the tickler:
You are, just like me, someone who enjoys photography ... I love your portraits, they are of unimaginable clarity and beauty. In addition, you radiate so much friendliness, you regularly give me hugs or tickle attacks - in short: there is always a reason to laugh. Perhaps we will manage to tackle a joint photo project in 2024 - it would be a great pleasure and honour for me in equal measure -
Thank you for all the tickles, hugs and your friendship!
Chema - the Royal King Corner Guard:
You have only recently come into my life - and it is a gift to be able to get to know you. As a rather introverted person, it's rare to find someone to talk to and fool around with. But that's exactly what happened to us.
We are both excellent protectors of club corners and probably more observers of others.
I've got to know you as a very friendly and understanding person over the past few weeks, it's fun to spend time with you and even to visit clubs where I don't understand a single word! I look forward to getting to know many more of your sides and facets in 2024.
Eres muy especial para mi, gracias por tu amistad
Craeton - my secret twin:
I've known you for quite a while - but probably only really noticed you through the Fantasy Faire a few years ago.
It's amazing when you realise how similar some people are to you, even though you hardly know them and live on the other side of the world. It happened more than once, that be both kinda say the same thing at the same time.
I like your level-headed, funny, calm manner - your understanding, your patience, your incredibly big heart for your friends and family.
I can spend whole nights chatting with you or keep quiet, I can share all my thoughts with you. You are the first chairman of the tackling Cuddle and Nose - Boop - Club and together with you we are unbeatable in the card game "Hand and Foot" ... I'm looking forward to lots more of this with you!
Thank you for being a wonderful friend and twin!
GS aka as Superman:
You have the wonderful gift of lightness, are somehow always relaxed, good humored and make it your job to make others feel better and make them laugh...
You are wonderfully warm-hearted and you are equally at ease discussing very serious topics or being totally silly and making nonsense. Your friendship means a lot to me, You are one of those very humble people who always reach out to me when I am a little quieter - thank you for your friendship and being my very own Superman!
Kadaj - my dearest cuddle victim:
I've known your name and your fantastic creations for so much longer than "you" - we've been friends since 2019, and even if we're not the kind of friends who stick together all the time, there's hardly anyone who is as reliable and valuable to me as you.
We may have something in common that goes beyond SL, we both appreciate the same things about people that are meaningful and important to us. With the patience of an angel, I can cry and get upset with you, jump on your back with a running start and cuddle you - and I know I will always get an honest and open answer, regardless of whether I like it or not.
I know that you would always make time for me, that is a great gift - and I would always try to do the same for you. And now I am waiting - patiently" for the promised Kadaj - Animesh - pet - so that I can always carry you in my pocket. I am very picky, to whom I show my imperfection - your wisdom is the kind of one, coming from a calm heart and soul - and you can even bring out the Papperlapapp!
Grazie di tutto, amico mio, sei una persona davvero speciale.
Olde often so small, and yet a giant:
Olde, your humour is boundless, as is your foresight and forbearance. I can always come to you, whether I need advice, information or just a laugh - even when you're whirling around in the eye of the tornado, you still radiate a stoic calm and composure.
I would like to thank you for the time you always take and also for perhaps the most lasting piece of advice you have ever given me. "Kill them with kindness" - I should listen to you much more often ... Thank you so much for your friendship Olde, I value that a lot.
Mirror / O / Oxygen - An oasis of reflection:
I don't even know which of your alternating, chosen names is the one that most reflects your personality... - What I do know is that this particularly deep kind of friendship with you has lasted for 7 years, and remains strong and resilient even when we haven't seen or spoken for a while.
I wish I had a little of your foresight, your serenity, your balance - and I thank you for each and every one of these lessons. For me, you are the embodiment of humanity, of friendship - you give without asking for anything.
Thank you for your unique friendship
Rory - a special friend:
... from the land of koalas, quokkas and tawny frogmouths - It may sound a little crazy, we've been friends since 2021 but we haven't actually met in persona - eye to eye / avatar to avatar - within SL. - Still, we've probably written to each other more than other people who see each other regularly.
We met through a mutual friend and we've been in touch ever since. I appreciate your kindness and how much you care about your friends, which is very rare, especially in SL. You also provide me with regular koala hugs! - It can't get any better than that! *winks* oh yes, maybe our avatars should get to know each other in 2024 :-)
Thank you, for being an excellent friend.
Zima:
You also belong on the list of positive experiences that 2023 has given me - we have known each other for almost a year now, and I must say your depth and knowledge have fascinated me from the very beginning.
It's so easy to talk to you for hours about God and the world, have fun, philosophize, listen to music - and I've even had the pleasure of hearing you sing and play the guitar.
I'm looking forward to 2024 and hope to continue spending time with you and staying in touch.
Thank you for your very special and unique friendship.
Shah:
You are proof that people don't have to dominate others to appear strong - on the contrary, you carry strength and have an attitude that is so appreciative and attentive.
We have only known each other for a few months, and in SL we perhaps share the same love of exploring beautiful places, enjoying peace and quiet and sometimes solitude without feeling alone, as well as a love of photography.
I hope that in 2024 we will continue to find time to talk, see beautiful places and maybe take a photo or two together - thank you for your time, your friendship :-)
Claudius - the professor:
We met in summer 2021 - and somehow hit it off straight away. We spent time together, then lost sight of each other a little...
Nevertheless, this friendship is still going strong today. I like your hidden humour, your patience and persistence and that you never make me feel guilty when I'm busy with something else and have to turn you down.
Drinking coffee with you in the café is a rare ritual, but one that I have grown to love, I can talk to you about anything, your wealth of knowledge seems boundless, we both share the profession of "teacher" - even if our students have an age difference of around 15-20 years.
I look forward to meeting you again at the café - thank you for your friendship Professor!
Thim:
You are also one of the good experiences and gifts that 2023 has brought. My first encounter with you was in a club - and actually, you were jumping up and down like a bouncy ball with your arms waving wildly - for a short time I thought you were an air traffic controller or waving in a few ships - it turned out you have a great sense of humour, it's easy to talk to you and have a laugh.
It turned out you have a great sense of humour, it's easy to talk to you, make nonsense, go shopping or dancing. I like your patience and friendly, tolerant and approachable attitude towards other people.
Tak, fordi du lod mig kalde dig en ven. Jeg håber, at vores venskab i 2024 fortsætter, hvor 2023 sluttede.
Woodsong:
You're one of those people that you just have to like somehow - we only met a few months ago, but immediately realised that we have a lot of the same interests.
Photography ... Nature. Music ... cats ... We never run out of topics to talk about.
For me, you are an artist, your photos are of unspeakable beauty, you have an excellent eye for motifs - you are also a musician, I've had the pleasure of listening to some of your songs, even though you're not currently performing in SL.
I look forward to hearing more about you, maybe we'll go on a photo safari together if our very different online schedules allow. Thank you for your friendship!
Aaron:
For a long time, we both spent a lot of time together in SL. There were interruptions, but the friendship was stronger and for me it grew into something that transcended the boundaries of SL.
We knew each other well, we could talk about almost anything, laugh, despair, shake our heads - you were often a good counsellor to me, we lived together, explored places, took photos, memories that no one can take away.
Somewhere we lost this way, it's not about guilt or anything else - I wish you all the best with all my heart and as Blue October would sing it... "I hope you are happy". Thank you, for the friendship we had.
Take very good care of yourself, A.
