So I've been really nostalgic lately. I haven't used a computer much at all in the last few years other than to do school work, and I happened across my old Wattpad trying to find something the other day. And with it came years and years of memories, mostly consisting of this website, the people I met here, and the memories I made.
It was 2011 when I joined this Wiki. Earlier than that, actually, because I had a previous account. So let's say 2010. That was almost 9 years ago. I was 11. That's absolutely crazy to think about. And even being so young, I ended up making some relationships with people that were incredibly strong and meaningful. With a bunch of people I met online, bonded over cats.
I'm going to be 20 next month. Most of the users I formed these close bonds with are going to be around the same age, most a few years older. Most have moved on from this Wiki, the same way I did. But I was active here for the better part of 5 years, and when I faded from here I feel as if most of us old timers faded around the same time. We all grew up and started new chapters of our lives, and 'that one cat website' faded into the gray, along with everyone we met and came to love.
Very few, if not any, of the people who I am thinking of and missing are still around to see this. I know that. But I hope that there will be times when we all come to remember 'WFW' and migrate back here just for the sake of reminiscing, and I hope we can take the time to comment or post to each other just to catch up. I've scrolled back on so many old blogs and came across users I had all but forgotten existed, but all of them I had had a friendship with to some degree. I want to acknowledge some of y'all in the hopes that maybe, someday, you'll see this. Because I miss all of you and the really good times we had and want to reminisce. This website (while destroying my face-to-face social skils for a decade to come, lol) gave me a backbone and pathed the way to my love of reading and writing, leading to my pursuing an English degree that I'm in my third year of building. It taught me some hard lessons about life, and helped me to grow up a bit by giving me a true community to be a part of. And for all you new/er users that I don't personally know, who are probably reading this going 'who the hell is this person', I hope WFW does the same for you. Coming together to stop trolls, all of us having a voice when it comes to major decisions, lots of drama that needs mutual work to be resolved, not to mention all the fun times like IRC parties and making each other art and making crackfics or collabs together--all of that helps mold who we grow up to be, whether you think it will or not. It did for me.
Forest is the first one I'd like to mention. Inactive since 2014, she was probably my first true friend here and subsequently the longest relationship I'd kept up. We were friends on Facebook, so I saw a bit of her life every now and then, but we no longer are, and I hope she's doing well. I believe she's graduated college by now and I know she had big dreams that she's hopefully been achieving. Wetty was one of the youngest around, but one of the most mature. She was also made admin very young and I was proud of her for that. She's been inactive for about a year now, and I know she's moving into college this fall which is a bizarre thing for me to think about since she was like, 9 or 10 when I met her. Zaffie, Birchy, Bird, Arti, a few others that had been solid in my life and inactive ranging from a year to about three years. Others that I spent less time with, like Robo (what happened to her page??? i don't remember her leaving), Firey. Brighty, Rainy, most of you were/still are staff even which is hard for me to wrap my head around because y'all were such noobs when I first met you, omg. Most of you still active. And I'm sure y'all are gettin old just like mama over here, not lil babies anymore. Brings a tear to my eye, sniffsniff. And I'm sure I'm forgetting tons of you. If you're still around, or happen to pop back in, and we knew each other, please speak up!!! I would love to have more people that share good times brought back to memory :)
Red in particular. If you knew the two of us at all, you know her and I were inseperable. I considered her my sister. We couldn't bear to go a day without speaking to each other. And one day that just changed, and thinking back on it it's hurting me to think about how close her and I were and that we haven't spoken in going on five years. I miss her dearly, and if you, by any stroke of luck, ever do read this, Red, I still love you, my colored companion.
If any of you do want to keep in touch with me, or just get back in touch for a bit, this is my Facebook. I don't really care about you guys knowing my name and it's the easiest way for me to chat with you all now. You can also add me on instagram if you want (I have a really cute dog that I post pictures of sometimes, it's totally worth it).
I miss all of you and the old times we had together. I hope each and every one of you is doing well, and I hope a lot of you old-timers happen across this blog sometime and can think back on all our happy times here too. Thanks to everyone who had my back, who supported me and helped me to grow through the ending of my childhood. I love you all, and thank you for everything. I doubt I will ever truly forget this place or the people I came to love.