Phaerwell, Phaelia!

Most of you, I’m sure, are already aware that Resto4Life is closing its doors, with a final post scheduled on or about March 19. However, it is very fitting to acknowledge here what a huge positive impact Phaelia has had on Kestrel’s Aerie, and on me as a blogger and WoW player.

Phae was one of the first commenters and supporters of the fledgling Kestrel’s Aerie, and was one of the people who provided a lot of help and guidance to me as I developed the blog, even supplying some code for my contact page. Her blog was in the first group of blogs I identified as “5-Star Blogs,” even though I don’t play a Druid. I wasn’t even a serious healer when I started this blog!

But reading Resto4Life taught me a lot about the game, about group mechanics, and how to be a better player, no matter what class I might be playing. What she has done for the Druid community with The World Tree, in addition to her best-in-class blog, is the stuff of legend. Arbor Day regained a lot of significance for many of us with her terrific celebration last year. (Who is going to pick up the baton for that, I wonder?) And of course, the institution she helped found in Blog Azeroth remains strong, and is vibrant force in the WoW blogging community.

On a personal note, I will never forget the excitement with which Phae got in touch with me 53 weeks ago, when we thought there was a chance we’d be on the very same cruise to the Mexican Riviera. Alas, it wasn’t to be, but the fact she was so thrilled about the possibility (as was I) we might get to meet means a very great deal to me.

While I’m sad that Resto4Life won’t be publishing new content, you can bet the link will stay on my blogroll, if only because it remains one of the most important Druid resources on the web. By the same token, I’m excited for both Phae and Mr Phae on the coming birth of their first child, and I wish the entire family nothing but the best of life, love and happiness.