Thank you for this post. I am slowly working through how it relates to my own situation.

Oddly enough, a similar party (of sorts) is one thing (among others) that can remind me to stop myself from going down the road to nobodylovesmeland. Four years ago this week, I was made a Companion of the Pelican... and people came to Atlantia from the East, from AEthelmearc, and from Drachenwald to be present. The following day herveus and Megan hosted a post-revel for the gang. Everyone was there to celebrate my accomplishments, at least as the proximate cause for being together.

As difficult as the last four years have been, that knowledge has kept me afloat at times. That a major reason why, two weeks ago, I was heartened to see most of the same crew (plus several others) get together and celebrate wanderingpixie's induction into the Pelicans. It may sound stupid, but the knowledge that people out there *do* love you and respect you really is useful.