Something about checking this site when I came back to my dorm from my first year college classes felt like home. I'd get so excited to check my new FA page that I finally felt confident enough to set up after being a quiet bystander to the art for so long. Posting my new artwork here, getting excited for my first notes, comments, which lovely people would watch me. Something about opening my laptop and seeing these colors and this site felt like I didn't have to hide anymore, and I met so many friends and people who'd change my life through here. I moved away from home finally, I could be gay in college, I HAD to draw, and I just gravitated towards here like all furs did. I wouldn't be here without this site, and I have extreme respect for Neer for helping make this site a reality for all of us, and for buying it back from IMVU when he did. Passion and care for our community has kept us afloat through crazy times, where states to try restrict even e621 usage, I hope we all can keep our passion alive and spread it like he did. He deserved better than our shitty healthcare system. I hope his friends and family are able to find peace/navigate this awful situation okay. RIP