Dearest Vintage Community (A letter)

[Joblin Velder]

Does this mean I win the Blue in Belcher arguement by default?

[Klep]

No, you still lose as long as I'm around.

[Upinthe]

Damn!...now I have to remove the quote that I attributed to you in my sig. Thanks for nothing...

[forests failed you]

Does this mean I win the Blue in Belcher arguement by default?

no its still awful.

I got your back while you are gone justin!

[SpencerForHire]

This is actually getting to me.  I am sad to see you go despite not playing in Vintage nor ever running into you in Michigan.  Hopefully you will find what you are looking for.
 I respect your decision totally; self worth and happiness are great things to strive for.  I hope only good things and great success for you!

[BigMac]

JD

I bow my head with respect. Your insights in combo have helped me enormously the past years. Those insights will be sorely missed.

However i do understand much of your story. As i am at the other end of that spectrum we should perhaps have some aspects of eachother to compensate a bit. Your ambition will eventually bring you to a place where you want to be. Do however keep your ambition always in check and look into the mirror often. Your quote hits on the core of this. If you like what you are doing you can take on the world. Always keep asking yourself if you like what you are doing. And remember, there is no shame in changing your mind about anything ever. There is no shame is asking for help ever. There is no shame in losing ever. Keep your head high and proud and be proud of who you are, what you are and what you have accomplished within whatever field.

Lastly i will second Bram about not letting you go. We will let you leave but do not be surprised if one day you sit before your magic cards pondering about your deck looking at yourself in the mirror while thinking: "They pulled me back in..."

Respect man
Marco alias BigMac

PS i also have had my years of having quit magic and they pulled me back in as well, there is no shame in that hehe.

[Ben Kossman]

Fraternities are for people without the spine to stand on their own. Your clearly capable of doing so. Don't let superficial, shallow ass people bring you down.
Life's too fucking short. Good luck in the real world.

[Mr. Nightmare]

Good luck with Engineering Grad work, I'll be starting mine soon too.  Of course, my company is paying for mine.

Remember to let me know if you need a job when you're done.

[Komatteru]

Just because I will no longer be playing and testing (or thinking about things such as matchups, deck construction, etc. unless asked directly), or seriously participating in arguments regarding these things, doesn't mean that I'm going to fall off the face of the planet and not hang around on TMD still.  I love posting on boards and such.    Ultimately, it is my inability to control my competitive drives that are causing me to retire -- not a hatred or overall boredom with the game itself.

Well, I doubt I'll be around too much while I'm in Japan.  I want to use that time for myself, but this site will likely remain one of my strongest connections back to America (since I probably won't be on AIM much, and I dislike email).

Once again, I thank all of you.  This has been a tremendously uplifting and positive experience -- far greater than I expected.

[Pitlord]

Man, I check out the community boards after like a week and I want to cry. Now who will provide such awesome tech for combo? Who will write hilarious reports that are insightful and fun to read.

I only ever met you briefly in person, at Star city Chicago. I was the scrawny kid with the "grr I hate this F'ing card" chalice. Does you retiring make that a collectors item?

I watched your matches, as well as Changs, and was amazed at the skill and ease you piloted your intense deck with. It is a shame to not be able to see you again, but good look doing whatever else it is that makes you happy.

<3

-Grant, the scrawny WTF kid with the chalice...

[CapitanJon]

JD,

You will be missed sir.  We have spent many an hour at Ram's Horn untill 4 or 5 in the morning and as soon as you get back to michigan we will spend many more.  There is always a place for you with us bud.

Jon

[NCM]

JD, this thread reminded me of one important fact.

Should we still call it JD's Desire?

In any case, you shall be greatly missed and it is indeed sad to see you go. Good luck on all your future endeavors.

[FMG]

I am a little late with my reply to this thread since I knew all about you retiring while we were hanging out watchin the Pistons. I don't post here that much either, but this needs to be said. Without one Mr. Justion Droooooooba. Myself nor my friend Jason would not have taken Vintage seriously. I don't know about Jason, but I owe JD the Mox Emerald that I won this past Saturday from Chicago. Without him educating me on the format, and getting us at the store in little Terre Haute, IN into the format I would still be terrible at the format. I don't think I am good be any means, but I am better than some people who play. Without JD I couldn't say that, I wouldn't have won my first piece of power, and I wouldn't have the privilege to have such a good friend. I mean really!  You were the first person I had to tell that I won. It ment that much to me that you know I won, I even said before the finals "If JD was here he would be proud of me right now." I really think I would not have even had a chance if you didn't take the time to test with me in the past. I can't play control that well, but I was on fire that day.

In closing what I am saying is that you will be missed in the format. More than any person I have ever played with. Just going to an event was an adventure in itself. I have a bunch of JD stories, but I will not share them right now. There is a time for that but not right now. I just want to say you will be missed in the game, missed at the shop when, and missed being in my town. It will be a long time before another person just shows up at our card shop and is a big enough influence to make us change how we Play, Test, and Have fun doing it.

I dedicate my win Saturday to you JD. It may not seem like much to some people, but it means a lot to me that you know I ment every word I said. Here is to the day when we get to shuffle up and play cards together again. Have a fantastic time in Japan, and give me a call tomorrow before you leave man.

Thanks for everything JD.

Peace,
Chadwick B. McKenzie

[Dozer]

Lastly i will second Bram about not letting you go. We will let you leave but do not be surprised if one day you sit before your magic cards pondering about your deck looking at yourself in the mirror while thinking: "They pulled me back in..."

Thirded. You'll be back. In a while. Enjoy the time between leaving and coming back as a more relaxed but equally successful player!

[unknown.root]

JD,

Thanks for getting me back into playing combo and using kanji dice.  You've caused soo many  of my opponents to be confused in the last few months. Hope our paths cross again my friend. You will be missed.

Kevin

[Methuselahn]

I never got a chance to meet you IRL, but your influence on these boards is beyond leaps and bounds.  So, I want to take this opportunity to say good bye, good luck in Japan, and have a happy retirement from Vintage and team Meandeck.

[Hi-Val]

This is a mad old Necro, and since JD's back in the community, I'ma lock this down and if JD wants to share where he is at, he's more than welcome to start up a new thread.

Hi-Val