ICQ tells me today, July 10th, is the birthday of the top comments poster here in the Vineyards, Courtney. The place might soon be claimed by Flines or ruby, but counting the Live Journal days, she is still quite ahead.
Among what few readers I have, Courtney is the one I have known the longest - not counting Flines, of course, who is my sister. And she keeps forgetting it, but we first met in Kugnae's Boa Cave, when Nexus still had a Boa Cave. We then met in Dark Ages, not knowing who each other was, and became actual friends when I learned who she had been in Nexus. "Friends" used loosely here, as we never spoke much. I remember, however, she always mentioned she liked handwritten letters, and sometimes said we should use that ancient media. I always found an excuse not to.
Then she left Dark Ages, and we nearly lost contact. I still had her in ICQ - and even gave the UIN to Justin once or twice - but never really talked.
I still knew of her whereabouts during these days thanks to Joanne, player of Pashura in Dark Ages, who was her roommate. When Joanne told me Courtney was playing EverQuest, I was quite sure she was lost forever. And then I was told she was getting married. "EQ players get married!?", I joked with Joanne, who did not like the joke. "She met him in EQ", she explained. "Yes, she is lost forever", I thought to myself in conclusion. Sad, sad days.
Then somehow she found the Vineyards in LJ, and commented a few times. First annonymously, then signed on unusual names which I somehow recognized as hers. It was very surprising that anyone would find that journal, it was even more surprising that it would be one with whom I had not talked for such a long time, and who was on EverQuest. It was very good to know I was wrong, I must say.
She continued to comment every now and then (given how often I write, she commented a lot) and eventually we started to talk on ICQ again. Very pleasant conversation, it is a shame we have so little to talk about - which is odd, because I would not have more in common with a twin brother if I had one. I lost count of how many times I said or heard "that is my favorite, too!" when talking to Courtney.
I know she has a homepage of her own, because I visited it once, but I have no idea where it is anymore, which greatly embarasses me. Since it is her birthday, I was going to add it to the links, and read its archives - I like reading archives, honestly -, because she deserves it, even if we do not talk often. But I do not have a link, so I add nothing to my list.
(Add, although I should have it replace the deadmemes link, because the site is closed, I think deadmemes looks a lot prettier now, so it stays there - and hopefully Justin will bring it back soon, keeping it that pretty.)
If ICQ is fooling me, I am making a bit of a fool of myself, but Courtney is a nice young lady, who no longer plays EverQuest, is always happy to talk and tell her stories, has the most fancy and scary dreams, and likes to make cookies and send them by mail; therefore, she deserves a mention even if it is not her birthday.
And if it indeed is, happy birthday, Courtney.