Every Beginning Has an End
by Terra_Cide, HSM Editor Emeritus
I’m writing this as my son completes his first year of primary school. It’s nothing short of amazing how far he’s come in just six years, especially taking into consideration the challenges he has to face – challenges that, for you and I, are simply day-to-day life. I’m quite proud of his accomplishments.
In an very abstract way, I see my son’s life and the life of Home as a sort of parallel. They are around the same age, and have come a long way from their beginnings. Both are also not what one would consider typical – in a good way.
However, that’s where the similarities end.
One is a child, still at the beginning of his journey through life, and even though he has his own thoughts and feelings, takes his cues from the adults in his world. The other is a product very likely near the end of its life cycle, and no matter how much we, the userbase, project of ourselves into it – all our emotions (good or bad), our ideals and agendas – at the end of the day, it is still just that: a program. Nothing more.
Home has given me much more than I ever imagined – or desired – when I first chose to take part in it. The experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met – both in Home and in the real world, the places I’ve traveled to, will stay in my memories for a long time to come.
Here’s the funny little twist, though – all of this was simply the result of a willingness to do the work, and to do it with no expectation of recognition or reward.
So, you might ask (and to steal that famous Disney World Super Bowl ad trope), now that you’ve help grow one of the most successful Home fansites, gone to E3 and hung out with a few Home devs, chatted either in person or on Skype with representatives from SCEA and SCEE, interviewed some pretty interesting people (both in print and on video), found employment with a Home developer, not to mention finding true love, what are you going to do next?
The answer? To close this chapter of my life and move on.
No need to check your calendars, folks, this isn’t a joke.
How do you walk away from something that has been a part of your life for so many years? Surprisingly easy, if you do it on your own terms, as opposed to some force outside of your control making the decision for you.
Many people who leave Home do so as a result of repeated bad experiences, ill will, or boredom. I can honestly say that none of those apply to me. Nor do I think less of those who are staying on. I’m walking away on my own terms, happy with the time and money I’ve spent, with my contributions to Home, and with no feelings of ill-will or regret. The tremendous opportunities I’ve experienced thanks to Home I’ll never forget, and I’m grateful for each and every one of them.
I’ve had a great run, and now it’s time to say goodbye. I’m done with that life, have nothing left to prove as far as Home is concerned, and ready to move one to the next chapter.
Even though I’ve left Lockwood and HSM, it’s hard to say whether this means Home will be 100% gone from my life. The people I’ve met and gotten to know in my time here will continue to matter to me (especially Jason, for obvious reasons), even after Home is a distant memory. There is also some merit to the experience of loading the cheesiest movie one can find on the EOD in the space of your choice, and holding your own MST3K night with friends while enjoying a beer in the comfort of your own living room.
I won’t completely rule out the idea of visiting, but it will mostly be on my own terms – the final rounds, if you will – seeing places and people one last time, for closure’s sake. While it is true that you can’t go home – when you have had a chance to see behind the curtain, it’s hard to see things the same way again – it will be nice to at least try and see Home as I used to see it, even if most of the spaces I once frequented quite often have long been gone.
We don’t know when our last day of Home will be. There will be an end, just like there will be an end to each of us. How we choose to use the time until then is up to the individual, and provided it doesn’t impede upon someone else’s experience and enjoyment of that time, there is no right or wrong answer.
As for myself, I’ve got a great many things already lined up, the least of which are a degree to finish and a son to raise. I’ve got a fantastic new job that’s outside of the gaming industry entirely. And even though it’s been a beautiful summer here in New England so far, there will undoubtedly be a day or two that will be rainy or just too hot to go outside and I can catch up on the backlog of games I’ve got. Or at the very least, I’d like to make some decent headway in Tales of Xillia before its sequel gets released here in North America.
I’ve gotten far more out of Home than I ever thought I would, and I’m leaving on top. May you, as well, find what you’re looking for.
For here though, it is goodbye. It has been fun, and I’m looking forward to what the new chapter holds.
June 28th, 2014 by Terra_Cide | 10 comments
Terra _Cide is the former Community Manager for Lockwood Publishing and Editor Emeritus for HomeStation Magazine.
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It is as simple as this: you did things the right way. You helped a lot of people, away from the public spotlight. You never asked for anything in return. You are one of only a *very* small handful of community users who became Home developers. And you walked away on your own terms, after having achieved everything that could be achieved.
You won the game of Home, Melissa.
Thank you for everything you did, both here and throughout Home. No one will ever know just how much time and work you put in. I’m personally grateful for all the help you’ve given, particularly since I know just how much stuff you juggle in real life.
I love you. And your new job is *really* exciting. It’s awesome to see good things happen to good people, and you *earned* your success. Thank you for everything you gave.
Congratulations on the new job, but also congratulations on all that you have done here. I know how insanely hard you have worked, but more than that It has been a pleasure to work with you and I’m happy to call you a friend.
As I told you before….
you’ve been nothing but awesome to me and presented some inspiration as well. I sincerely thank you for your patronage with HSM and the Home Community.
Cheers to you and Spliff-B Noice.
Though I didn’t know you as well as some I remember what you shared about your life before and now. :)You summed up the best way to make an exit, always on your own terms. Congratulations on everything!You are real go-getter!
;^) Raising your son will be an adventure in its own right. Each year of his life will be a different flavor of special, and once gone, will not return again. Be sure to treasure each one while you can.
Wishing you all the best in whatever is to come next. Whoever you work for next will be blessed by your dedication and honesty. Your son is also blessed to have a mom who puts him first, these years are precious ones and go too fast. Thanks for all the hard work and for your passion for Home and this magazine, you will be missed.
Really hot here in SoCal. I have the fan on me and it has made my eyes water- Yeah thats why..
I think back to all the meetings and Podcasts and messages sent and I have always been so proud of the contributions and sacrifices you have made for the way you live. Your life story. You are a survivor but more than that you’re a very old soul who knows the love of a little boy. Your son is your Home. So amazing that journey.
Our virtual playground has allowed me to meet someone who has guided me and reminded me that women are to be respected and loved. (or face the blade) lol.
Home has a give and take about it and it has only prospered by having you in it. I have a brotherly love for everything you are. Jason on the other hand well… He loves you. If you two ever need a Mt. Olympus getaway.. /hugs
Melissa, Congratulations on your new job and hope the best for it and they will be privilege in having you in their team, as you put it well on the article as every beginning has an ending, as great it has been through out the years it has to have an ending point, if it is by you ending it to a certain degree due to your real life and personal choice or by the program ending itself. Do know about kids and how it can be similar as they come to age and you make changes based on it. Changes are good and bad in different ways, but you make the best out of it. So many things you must do to make things happen.
Its been very admirable on your dedication on what you have accomplished on HSM and Lockwood, you’ve done so much for the Home Community and many know and have seen the impact of it.
Even thou it an ending phase part of your life, it does not mean it is something long gone for good, glad Jason is there as a big part of your life and you always will reminisce on how you got to know each other, and same will go to many you’ve met through out the years and those fun memories in this great community, in which will be cherished for a long time coming.
It was great to have met you last year at E3 and to have the the chance to plan things with you for the Home Community.
How dare you try to have a life outside of Home and this community. You stop that right now and get back to editing.
Or don’t. Walk away, knowing that you’ve made a huge difference in a lot of lives and earned yourself the chance to look after your own and your son’s for a change. Because you have. Your legacy lives not just in these pages, but in all of the lives that you touched through HSM, in those writers who you nurtured and encouraged and who, like you, will go on to do great things while carrying the lessons of our shared experience here.
Thanks for that, and don’t be a stranger.
I hope the best for you and the new endeavor approaching your life.