Memories Flooding Back...
https://s19.postimg.org/gmco7ty3n/Newbs.jpg
Name: Illiria
World: Sylph
Description: Choosing a screenshot for this proved to be more difficult than I thought. It may not look like much is going on here, but this screenshot means a lot to me. This was the very first screenshot I took within the first few months of playing FFXI back in August 2004. I was leveling my RDM and he was leveling his WHM in La Theine.
Up until the Fairy > Sylph server merge, I was known as Rafa for about 6 years. Brynna was played by my brother in real life. He no longer plays, but playing with him was among some of my fondest memories in FFXI. There's not one particular screenshot among the thousands I took over the years that I could choose would be more important than any other.
I took a stroll down memory lane going through them all, and remembered many things during those times that shaped who I am as a person in real life, as well as the mithra I play in game. I can't speak for everyone that plays but for myself personally, FFXI has changed my life. Although the memories were made on an online RPG, they were memories none the less... and they're real. All the people that I've spoken to over the years, and all of the amazing people who I met along the way, the good and the bad... they all live on forever in some form in my mind. The best part is that some of them I can call friends for life. If I'm being completely honest, this game and my memories of it are one of the best things to happen to my life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.