Getting my levels up. Need to get back to my Level 7!

I… genuinely don’t know what to say, other than I’m mortified to only learn about this nearly a week later. Admittedly, I’ve been less active on the SOG as my mental health has spiral downwards these past several weeks, and I’ve only just found relatively stable footing this weekend, but it still feels so sudden. I never met him in person, nor was I able to attend one of the weekly calls to speak with him. As such, I almost feel like I shouldn’t be as impacted as I am by the news. Don’t get me wrong—any death is tragic and worthy of grieving, irrespective of context or relation. But I feel like I just lost a friend. I think it comes down to two things: energy and legacy. Though I never so much as heard his voice, Scott’s presence in the Society was attentive, warm, and reliable. He truly was a one-of-a-kind community backbone that not held it together, but encouraged everyone else to continue strengthening its web of connections. It’s one thing to be active—and Scott was *very* active—but it’s a whole nother thing to do so while still making sure every comment counts, every post, precise. His energy was second-to-none. No, it IS second-to-none. After all, energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Scott’s infectious energy lives on in those it reached. But energy isn’t all he has pased on to us. “Legacy” is an infamously difficult concept to define, but even without a precise definition, we all know what it is—what it feels like. It’s creating a community of like-minded outsiders, unincumbered by distance and unrestrained by politics. It’s taking the time to foster bonds within that community, to be the one to make sure everybody feels welcome. It’s seeing a world different from your ideal, then taking the steps to close that insurmountable gap, not because you think you can reach it, but because you know that every step closer is its own victory, that every step closer makes the effort worth it. I didn’t know Scott Thornton that well, especially compared to many of the other gents here. But I saw his vision, his passion, and his care. Even if the Society were to disappear tomorrow, the seeds he sewed and cultivated would continue to thrive. As a historian and storyteller, “legacy” is a particularly sensitive subject to me. Perhaps that is why Scott’s passing has left me feeling so shaken.

Whenever I made this mistake I paid a price. Each time I compared myself to another I came up short.. What I couldn't see was the background, experience, secrets and feelings of the other. I found it healthier to search others intentions, mutual values, standards and expectations. That's how I determine if someone is my equal or often better. From there a friendship may be possible. I have No friends in Macon. I've met and known many people here but I don't sacrifice or compromise my standards simply due to being lonely or alone. Too many people violated my moral code. Excessive drinking, infidelity, constant cursing etc. I've learned to appreciate being me at all times and being alone allows for introspection, emotional growth and mental accuity. Thanks

On one level, questioning our existence is to question our Creator. I don't poke that Bear. If Mother Nature has a consciousness, is the hot temperatures payback for us complaining about the cold for so long? I'm certain there's a Master Plan. How I/we fit into the Plan has always been a mystery to me. When something or anything is beyond my control, I don't bother with drama. My life has been easier that way. For those that may not believe in Creation, Who caused the big bang? Who Created the Aliens responsible for the pyramids etc? Relax, Do, Die. Preferably in that order. Thanks

It's based off the Pumpkin in the opening of Halloween '78. It's my favorite scary movie :)