Thankfulness for 11/15…

Every once in awhile, you meet someone who will change your life forever. Who will leave an impression so deep into your heart, soul and mind, you’d think they were a giant.

Well, granted – when I first met her, she thought I was 5 years old.

Her name is Lindsay Archer, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine my life without her. She and I met through an ElfQuest list called “Ivy Holt” – where you’d create a character and basically interact with other people who had created characters. It was a fantastic way to exercise the creative side of the brain. Well, since the Holt (Holts are essentially the community of homes in ElfQuest) lacked any young, child like characters – I went ahead and made one called Leaftop. So Lindsay naturally assumed, the person playing Leaftop was also very young. (I still laugh about her comment, “This five year old is an incredible writer for being so young!”) I eventually developed and created a new character, Tymber – which went on to be my main character in the Holt. My character (Tymber) and Lindsay’s character (Sureshot) became inseparable in the stories (I think because I was so enamored by her amazing artist ability that came through in the Ivy Holt newsletters that the owner used to send out to members).

Eventually Lindsay and I broke away from Ivy Holt, and began writing adventures of Tymber and Sureshot exploring the world. We eventually even recruited Mary Jo, and the three of us started a Holt called High Falls Holt. It was run by the three of us writing several characters – but it always centered on the three main characters. (Sureshot/Lindsay, Tymber/Sureshot, and Foxfire/Mary Jo).

Eventually, Lindsay and I continued writing together – developing new characters, new world – by the name of Lyra (Lindsay) and Helm (myself). That went on for a great many years.

Finally, Lindsay was coming to the San Diego Comic Convention – and this was going to be my chance to finally meet this person I had gotten so attached to, and connected so well to – because she and her (then friend) were both staying at my place. I was, admittedly, a nervous wreck. (Not even sure I have ever been as nervous as I was that day to finally meet her). So many scenarios were going through my head – listing about a thousand reasons she’d not like me in person, or that awkwardness of when you meet someone for the first time – and not knowing what to say or how to act.

Amazingly – it wasn’t like that at all. When we saw each other, we embraced, hugged, laughed and immediately began talking. It’d been like we had known each other forever, and she was just coming back from a long trip. It was an amazing feeling to know that someone I had gotten to know, love and adore so much online could be so easily loved and adored in person!

I could probably go on and on and on about the fun and stories the first time Lindsay came out here. (From “No, THAT sounds like a flat tire!” to staying up all night because she couldn’t breathe!)

Lindsay has enriched my life in ways words will never be adequate to explain. I am thankful for my unusual persistence in getting to know her on the Ivy Holt, and the incredible amount of love that developed over the years since then. You can check out the Art of Lindsay Archer Facebook page as well as her newly designed website.

Lindsay first appeared in Episode 43: Got Some Time To Kill?