So about 8 years ago I first heard about and joined the furry community. And well, it was wonderful. I met my first boyfriend and had my first genuinely meaningful relationship. Most of my friends and my best friends were from FA. I was able to express myself in ways I didn't know I could because at home expressing myself was terrifying. FA and the friends that I had made and my partner at the time, well they game me courage.I used that courage to come out of the closet. And then things started to change... this person I was online started to be who I was in real life and it was beautiful, exhilarating, and terrifying. Things things started to change again, my boyfriend and I parted ways, I was graduated from high school and the friends I made started to slowly drift away. Slowly piece by piece the fandom became a former part of who I was as I ventured forth into this life.

Two Years after leaving the fandom I found myself in a relationship that I knew I wanted to last forever. Slowly that confidence that I gained while I was here really began to help me. It helped be true to myself and hold my head up high as I built this wonderful relationship. It helped me as I started a new career which blossomed. It began to help me be a better person and live the life I wanted.

It's now 8 years since I first heard about the fandom. And I have a career that I love, I have a home, and a car, and am getting married. All of the things that I was so afraid of when I was young; This idea of growing up and slowly losing my friends and being an adult. Turns out they aren't so scary after all. And I realized that things change, and that's ok! A lot of you that I called friends, I still miss you guys. You guys gave me the best years of my life.

With all this being said, I don't know how often I will be around anymore, but I will say this: Thank You.