I can tell you that from my perspective, it was truly an honor and a privilege to lead a stellar organization team for Second Life’s sixth birthday festivities over the last several months. It was a labor of love that I can say with unbridled honesty has been the single most satisfying experience of my Second Life so far. I have such a tremendous amount of respect for the Second Life community, and consider myself so fortunate to be part of a world brimming with such startling creativity that both awes and inspires me daily. To those who participated and contributed to the event I extend my most sincere gratitude. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the celebration.

I am rather nostalgic about Second Life in general. Having been involved from the final day of 2002, seeing how far it has evolved from that bare-naked baby of a world it was then to the full grown virtual environment that has literally set the benchmark for all that will follow; I feel a certain devotion to Second Life that cannot be easily explained. It has provided me so many opportunities that would never have come my way without it. It has given me cherished friendships that I have taken beyond the realm of Second Life, and into the heart belonging to my first life person. A very long time ago when I was very ill, the Second Life world fulfilled a critical human need. Back then, as sufferer of a condition called agoraphobia, Second Life made me feel I had a purpose. I was an instructor, a mentor, an events coordinator in those early days. I was part of something bigger than myself with people whose talents I respected and admired. It was a small window into the outside world that I didn’t have access to back then. As a survivor of that condition today, I fully believe that this platform played an integral role in my recovery. I will be forever in the debt of Second Life, and the people who have made it what it is - both staff and community.

To have participated in the 5th Birthday in the final moments of it’s organization last year, I took on the task because I believed it was something truly remarkable; to be afforded the opportunity to help bring together an effort that marked a milestone in the evolution of Second Life and celebrate it’s wonderfully diverse community. Granted the circumstances were not ideal. I had come in a mere month before the launch, and was appointed lead organizer only after the previous ones had left. I was not aware of things that had occurred before my arrival, and so my knowledge was, at best, limited. I could only do my best to move the event forward, and despite everything else I was glad to have been a part of it.

When the event was proposed to me again this year, I saw it as an opportunity to be involved from day one and really do my very best to create an event that would be unsurpassed. It was my love letter to Second Life and the people within it. I wanted it to be extremely positive and absolutely unforgettable. I believe that alongside some of the most gracious volunteers on the grid, that has been achieved. Second Life’s Sixth Birthday was the most successful birthday event ever. While it would be nice to say it was my doing - such a statement would be an untruth. If it were not for Dusty Linden, Poid Mahovlich, Toxic Menges, Glimmer Silverstar, Jewelkicker Spearmann and countless other volunteers who devoted incredible amounts of time to the realization of this project, of whom without it would not have achieved even half the success it has. Which, in my mind and heart takes it all full circle for me: It is indeed what the nature of Second Life has always been about, the engine that has driven the locomotive in a forward motion. That is collaboration and shared passion.

As quickly as the world within Second Life has changed, so has the one outside in that place we call real. Due to the economy I was laid off last August and became one of the many who found themselves a statistic of a historical economic low point. Well, thankfully that time has come to an end.

I’ll still be around though, toiling away with what free time I have making machinima whenever possible! I will always be a part of the Second Life universe. All this means is that I will be far to busy to commit my time to the events that I have really enjoyed participating in. The community definitely deserves someone who can give it their all and I know that there is someone out there willing and eager to collaborate with SL’s amazing volunteers to create some astounding interactive events! I think it was fitting that this phenomenal birthday has been my last. It was a blessed experience from start to finish and something I will keep with me always. Please accept my deepest gratitude for inviting me into your Second Lives during those events I was lucky enough to have been a part of, from those early days teaching new arrivals to build in 2003 to the Day of Remembrance to this last big Horrah! of a birthday party. I hope that your all find your Second Lives as beautifully enriched as you have made mine.

Phaylen

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