*There are all kinds of clichés that are appropriate to begin this e-mail with, but I'd like to stay far away from clichés for this letter.* * * *It's the Celestial Prime **Alliance**'s eighth anniversary next week. Eight years is a long time in real life, and it's even longer in terms of the online world. It's been a wonderful experience, and an incredible opportunity to meet so many fun, interesting people. Playing here has always been a favorite past time for me, as I hope it has been for all of you, the amazing people who make this online thing so much fun.* * * *This will be my last anniversary with the Celestial Prime **Alliance**. I've decided to hang up my hat and step down from running the group on the anniversary. * * * *It's not a decision I've come to easily. I've been wrestling with it for nearly a year, and it's now time to take the step. I want to thank all of you for choosing to play here, and I hope that you've made some life-long friends through this wonderful group, as I have.* * * *As to who will take over, well, that will be up to you, as a group or individually. It simply isn't possible to think that the group will just go on as it has before. Dynamics are funny things, with the funny habit of always changing. If you decide to keep on as things are, that's great. The CPA is a solid, well-knit group, with virtually none of the politics and back-biting that's so common in other arenas. If you decide to seek out another group for you or, if you are a Host and your players decide that staying here is not what they want to do, then I wish you the very best. There are good groups out there, and any of them should be honored to have you as an addition.* * * *Words can't express how grateful I am to everyone, past and present, who has played here and made the past ten and a half years of my online life so much fun. I've met such wonderful people though this, and I know that those friendships will continue. I have been truly blessed to find so many dear friends.* * * *By no means am I gone from the online community. I hope to be able to host my very silly, very comical USS Halcyon ship every once in awhile, and I intend on keeping the "AdmiralGem" and "Amythyst Grey" screen names in case you'd like to chat (and I hope you will). If, as the group redesigns itself, anyone would like to hear the voice of experience with regard to anything, please don't hesitate to shoot me an IM or an e-mail. I would be thrilled to help in any way I can. However, the one tip I will put out there as the most important is; Be kind. Kind to each other, and kind to yourselves.* *With that, I'll bring this to a close. Thank you all again for an unforgettable eight years of fun, games, joys and sorrows. Being able to share all of that with you has been my greatest joy and privilege.* *Fondly,* * Bernadette* * - Admiral Gem Rhee, Retired* **