Life Without Animal

by Crazy Ivan


As many of you know, the Myachi family bid farewell to one of it's favorite sons a few months back.  Animal, who has been involved with this company is some way or another for longer than I have, recently moved on to another job in another state.

Of course, things like this happen.  People grow and their needs change.  Animal fell in love and his need to be with the woman he loved was greater than his need to stay with the job he loved and when she moved we all knew it was only a matter of time.

And while Animal has left the company, he certainly hasn't left the movement.  He's still one of the world's foremost Myachi freestylers.  After all, it's not like you turn in your skills with your two weeks notice.  Nobody can ever truly "leave" the Myachi movement, but it's even less possible when you have the Myachi glyph prominently tattooed on your forearm.

So we said goodbye to Animal the right way, with a big party and a lot of friends... okay, it was actually a big roast with a lot of friends, but it served the same purpose.  He donated a bunch of his collection to future contests, gathered up his belongings (mostly graphic novels and limited edition action figures) and moved on to new things.

Over the intervening months, we've all had to adjust to a House of Skills that is, while a bit cleaner and a bit quieter, a bit less skilled and a bit less fun.  Now don't get me wrong, Bones moved in to Animal's old room and he's mad fun (not as messy or loud though), but there are certain times when it becomes painfully obvious that Animal isn't here any more.  For example, last night we were trying to remember the name of Jabba the Hutt's little pet rat and we had to Google it.  If Animal were here, we could have saved those keystrokes.

Now, I joke, of course, but Animal is one of my best friends in the world.  I've known him for 8 years and for a lot of that time we've worked and lived together... sometimes in a cramped RV.  He's like a brother to me and there's something to be said for having one of your best friends as a roommate.  There are at least a couple times every day when I wish he was still around.  I'm happy that he's doing what he feels is best for him, as we all are, but one can't help but feel that tinge of selfishness when one realizes that a friend that was once always there no longer is.

Life without Animal is tough, but we're coping.  It is kind of nice that we all got moved up in the "best Matrix reloaded in the company" rankings, but it is a small solace.