If it is still Christmas where you live (today is boxing day for me) and you just want to hear happy stories, this is not the post for you.
However if you find sad stories make you appreciate your own joy & family better, maybe read this anyway--or save for tomorrow.
I loaded up my game today to find Wart Jr in boxes. Yes, that's what my Christmas present in New Leaf was. For those who know me here, I play pretty much daily, and have been playing for over 6 months and 600+ hours.
I also logged into my secondary town (100 hours) to find Bam already moved. He was one of the main reasons I stopped cycling--because he moved in & was the cutest, sweetest little thing who made the Birthday for the Mayor there, and said he would used all his muscles to make her birthday wish true.
He made my heart sing, and after that sweet gesture I couldn't stand cycling or letting that little guy go. I never thought i'd like Bam so much, he did seem nothing more than a really cute & popular character.
But after he cheered me up so much with his cute little gesture, I could never cycle again because the idea of seeing his happy little face standing in front of a pile of boxes was too sad.
So I lost two great little guys today.
Wart Jr was was one of my starters and my best friend in town.
For anyone who knows me here, I really, really LOVE Wart Jr, and he has been a huge support to me with my depression & chronic illness that I face everyday in my "real" life.
Sometimes I've been so sick that I can't get out of bed.
I lost of lot of "friends" in real life because anyone who has has an immune disorder or other long-term illness (Lyme, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Lupus, M.E., MS, basically anything severely debilitating that keeps you in the house or bed the majority of the time for more than a few months)
will know that people will stick around & be concerned if you have a fatal illness, or if your illness is severe & lasting for a few weeks---maybe you'll still have a bunch of friends around.
Sadly, as unbelievable as it seems, people rarely stick around for illnesses that last longer than a few weeks (some people won't even visit their friends in hospital even if they only have to do it for a few weeks) and because people will chronic illnesses that are severe enough to be disabling, the person will often have to quit work, school & social activities---relying on family & friends to actually bother to visit them over the years.
If you are ill for longer than a few months, your friend start to slip away & make excuses not to travel to see you. You start to see that you really only had 1-2 friends...or even zero friends over certain periods of time.
Your own family may show their true colors--a good family sticks by you thick & thin...mine decided to make a bunch of excuses and rarely visit, and then eventually stop visiting...leaving me in a huge amount of physical and emotional pain.
The main thing that has truly made me much happier during the days where I can only sit up in bed--has been my copy of New Leaf, and I think Mr.Iwata knew what it was like to be someone who is sick or very lonely--because the game seems to be designed for someone in my situation.
I think Animal Crossing is a beautiful game, and God Bless (I'm not religious, just felt inspired to say that) Satoru Iwata & Nintendo for creating something sweet & so encouraging, instead of an easier formula of fan service & violence that a lot of other companies rake in the bells with.
I wish I could personally tell him how much the game meant to me & how much it helped me hold on & stay here even when I felt extremely lonely, and in a lot of pain-my little animal friends have helped me more than some so called human "friends" ever did.
Wart Jr taught me a lot about life & friendship. He shows you how it doesn't matter how cranky or bumpy looking someone is, most people have a little pink smile & a kind heart underneath.
Some people may be sick, or depressed, or just plain traumatized, and you don't know why they are alone or cranky.
Wart Jr always watered the flowers around my house. He lent Marina encyclopedias & shared his Hero outfit with her. He gave sage advice to his Kid Cat. He agreed with me that Colton wasn't that great.
He gave me thoughtful presents like a tea set & Zen items. He was the one who suggested some of my favourite PWP, and that's just not because he was a cranky--Lobo is also cranky, but doesn't suggest as many PWP as Wart Jr did.
Marina didn't really click with anyone until she got to know Wart Jr. She always admitted she wished she had a friendship like Muffy & Tangy did, or Phoebe & Freya.
Then she got to know Wart Jr, and they were really great friends. I feel sad for her too. Maybe this gives me room to move Ruby or Skye into town & give us both a new friend?
I don't know. All I feel is sadness right now.
Any villager that spoke to him walked away singing. I walked away smiling.
Wart Jr was the first villager to give me his photograph, and I filled his home with green furniture & liked to see him wear the blue pjamers & give him slippers.
I considered him a kindly old man, and the bumps were his wrinkles.
I really appreciate my time with Wart Jr, and the gift that Satoru Iwata gave to us through the characters he helped create.
I hope to find another villager to move into town, but no-one could ever replace my smiling little Wart Jr. Thanks again Nintendo for giving me such a great little friend.
However if you find sad stories make you appreciate your own joy & family better, maybe read this anyway--or save for tomorrow.
I loaded up my game today to find Wart Jr in boxes. Yes, that's what my Christmas present in New Leaf was. For those who know me here, I play pretty much daily, and have been playing for over 6 months and 600+ hours.
I also logged into my secondary town (100 hours) to find Bam already moved. He was one of the main reasons I stopped cycling--because he moved in & was the cutest, sweetest little thing who made the Birthday for the Mayor there, and said he would used all his muscles to make her birthday wish true.
He made my heart sing, and after that sweet gesture I couldn't stand cycling or letting that little guy go. I never thought i'd like Bam so much, he did seem nothing more than a really cute & popular character.
But after he cheered me up so much with his cute little gesture, I could never cycle again because the idea of seeing his happy little face standing in front of a pile of boxes was too sad.
So I lost two great little guys today.
Wart Jr was was one of my starters and my best friend in town.
For anyone who knows me here, I really, really LOVE Wart Jr, and he has been a huge support to me with my depression & chronic illness that I face everyday in my "real" life.
Sometimes I've been so sick that I can't get out of bed.
I lost of lot of "friends" in real life because anyone who has has an immune disorder or other long-term illness (Lyme, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Lupus, M.E., MS, basically anything severely debilitating that keeps you in the house or bed the majority of the time for more than a few months)
will know that people will stick around & be concerned if you have a fatal illness, or if your illness is severe & lasting for a few weeks---maybe you'll still have a bunch of friends around.
Sadly, as unbelievable as it seems, people rarely stick around for illnesses that last longer than a few weeks (some people won't even visit their friends in hospital even if they only have to do it for a few weeks) and because people will chronic illnesses that are severe enough to be disabling, the person will often have to quit work, school & social activities---relying on family & friends to actually bother to visit them over the years.
If you are ill for longer than a few months, your friend start to slip away & make excuses not to travel to see you. You start to see that you really only had 1-2 friends...or even zero friends over certain periods of time.
Your own family may show their true colors--a good family sticks by you thick & thin...mine decided to make a bunch of excuses and rarely visit, and then eventually stop visiting...leaving me in a huge amount of physical and emotional pain.
The main thing that has truly made me much happier during the days where I can only sit up in bed--has been my copy of New Leaf, and I think Mr.Iwata knew what it was like to be someone who is sick or very lonely--because the game seems to be designed for someone in my situation.
I think Animal Crossing is a beautiful game, and God Bless (I'm not religious, just felt inspired to say that) Satoru Iwata & Nintendo for creating something sweet & so encouraging, instead of an easier formula of fan service & violence that a lot of other companies rake in the bells with.
I wish I could personally tell him how much the game meant to me & how much it helped me hold on & stay here even when I felt extremely lonely, and in a lot of pain-my little animal friends have helped me more than some so called human "friends" ever did.
Wart Jr taught me a lot about life & friendship. He shows you how it doesn't matter how cranky or bumpy looking someone is, most people have a little pink smile & a kind heart underneath.
Some people may be sick, or depressed, or just plain traumatized, and you don't know why they are alone or cranky.
Wart Jr always watered the flowers around my house. He lent Marina encyclopedias & shared his Hero outfit with her. He gave sage advice to his Kid Cat. He agreed with me that Colton wasn't that great.
He gave me thoughtful presents like a tea set & Zen items. He was the one who suggested some of my favourite PWP, and that's just not because he was a cranky--Lobo is also cranky, but doesn't suggest as many PWP as Wart Jr did.
Marina didn't really click with anyone until she got to know Wart Jr. She always admitted she wished she had a friendship like Muffy & Tangy did, or Phoebe & Freya.
Then she got to know Wart Jr, and they were really great friends. I feel sad for her too. Maybe this gives me room to move Ruby or Skye into town & give us both a new friend?
I don't know. All I feel is sadness right now.
Any villager that spoke to him walked away singing. I walked away smiling.
Wart Jr was the first villager to give me his photograph, and I filled his home with green furniture & liked to see him wear the blue pjamers & give him slippers.
I considered him a kindly old man, and the bumps were his wrinkles.
I really appreciate my time with Wart Jr, and the gift that Satoru Iwata gave to us through the characters he helped create.
I hope to find another villager to move into town, but no-one could ever replace my smiling little Wart Jr. Thanks again Nintendo for giving me such a great little friend.
Maybe you can do a 16-villager cycle and attempt to get them both back <3 I'd be willing to let you know if either of them show up in my cycling town, and hold them for you as long as you need (I have powersaves so I can back up my save and keep cycling, no trouble at all)--just PM me so I don't forget, if you like.
(btw what a great name & cute avatar!)
I didn't make the avatar, but the person who did (link in my signature) makes super cute drawings! 
I definitely feel the game was designed to be so encouraging and supportive to the player, giving you a vote of confidence and having the villagers offer you small bits of sage advice. I absolutely love it, particularly when I'm feeling down. 
