Dear friends,
It is totally out of character for me to concede defeat before it has been cut in stone. However, Real Life situation has emerged to make me realize I won't be having time to actively participate in this game any more - regardless of the outcome of this election. Therefore I'd like to take this chance to say farewell to you.
I was new to the Demogame when I came here, it was shortly after the start of the Civ 4 Demogame Warmup. I was instantly hooked by the unique concept of the game and the way how people here put it to work. I was amazed and excited, inspired and motivated. So I joined in and spent a lot of time here. Now as I look back, it has been a short but intense, I dare say passionate experience for me.
However, the time was anything but wasted, at least from my point of view. Despite of my being a rookie, I was instantly accepted by the community. My participation was acknowledged, my efforts appreciated. I felt home here, and I felt alive. For that I'm endlessly thankful, especially to many veterans of the game who helped me time and again.
I am a sentimental person, so I better cut this short. I will be come by here from time to time to look around, and maybe even rejoin this lovely community actively in, say, two years. I'm very confident that some of you will still be around then, and I wish a few would still recognize me.
As a final word, I'd like to stress that my withdraw from this game has no causal connection with my evidently disastrous performance in this election and the cause of it - although the outcome now certainly enables a smooth transition of the office. I am not fleeing from some people who I have obviously alienated recently - but I'm aware some of you may not believe that. (For those who do believe me and are curious, I'm currently moving, and things have gotten complicated, giving me some new insights about my life.) It's less than satisfying to go away like this, but I'm not sorry for the stand I've taken, only for the fact I won't be here to hold it any longer.
In the end, no matter if you're glad, sad, or utterly indifferent about me leaving, I do wish you all well for this game - and what's more, for the sake of this game.
See you around some time!
Good night, and good luck.
Greetings,
Blkbird
PS: In case you don't know yet,
my Deputy Mike Lemmer has quitely withdrawn from the game a few days ago.