“Sometimes you may feel alone, but there are many many people around you who see you and love you”

This gift was given to me by . My friend.

I know this is long but I want to take a moment to talk about each one included here. Starting from the Left:

A hard working game maker, artist and fellow Granite Stater. A man who’s the very definition of humble.
Zoe Figueroa: One of the best writers of erotica I know. Matriarch of the Cinnamon Switch discord and lead writer for Mice Tea: https://cinswitch.itch.io/mice-tea
Technological mastermind and overall interesting individual. Lover of bad jokes.
Always the first to complement and make others feel appreciated. 100% Whole[grain]some
A wonderful individual. Kind and loving and always thinking of others. There aren’t enough nice words in the English or Polish dictionary to describe Moo.
An enthusiastic woman with a love of Knights and code.
Old-school. A man with a fondness for Dragons and a hatred for certain classic RPG sequels. A nice and down to earth person.
Your friendly neighborhood french tigre. A very good, and at times horny, fellow.
Relatively recent acquaintance but a pleasant person who I’ve spoken to and confided in with some worries. Has never shyed away from hearing my problems.
Hands down the best Yuri artist out there. Super chill to talk to and caring. Her ability to bring out the best in her subjects is second to none.
Passionate at making art, UBF always pushes herself super hard. She’s also an incredibly compassionate person toward the folks she cares about. May she be destined for greatness.
A skilled video game player and extremely witty [for someone who posts constantly about fox girls]. He’s also someone who’s maturity is far ahead of most others at times where it counts.
Bishop of Bovines. JP was the first person I got to know this year. A man who’s enthusiasm for the Visual Novel, Changeling Tale rivals mine by miles!
Maybe the first person in the group I regularly hang out with that was willing to include me. I don’t know if I could say I’d have the friends I do now without him.
I was intimidated by Wat at first but I’ve come to understand him a lot better. He’s helpful to his fellow artists, always willing to assist them if he can. I think that aspect about him is his best quality. Like you have this dude as skilled as he is yet he’s willing to give tips or help with redlining.
Rose never fails to make sure other people know they’re valued. In our group of good beans, Rose is the best of the bunch.
Spoops: One of the group of Pone artists I’ve met this year. They are an...interesting group but overall friendly folks.
One of the most impressive artists I’ve met this year. Rough around the edges but incredibly skilled. I’ve got quite a few pieces from them this year and for a good reason. They are the only person that has never made fun of my...unique tastes. I truly believe if they showed off more of their art publicly, they could go on to be seen as one of the greats.
The man responsible for the stuff I like today. Libra was someone I’ve watched for years but never imagined I’d be able to talk to directly. I’ve been able to this year and while he and I aren’t as close as some of the others here, he seems to value the small bit of help I’ve given him. Even if that’s just encouragement. I’m so honored that a nobody like me can assist someone like him who has brought me so much...joy? Yeah...lets call it “joy”.
Maker of some ADORABLE art. Her colors and expressions are always super cute! If there’s someone that can make Wat’s grumpy durgan look cuddly, then they achieved something pretty great!
uhh...Wonder is...ummm...well, he’s a dork.
[but a good person]

There are a number of other folks. Ones I know from picarto, discord servers and even a couple here on FA. I'm truly blessed to have them in my life. This I believe also helped me understand something else. Not too long ago someone told me during one of my lowest and most foolish moments. “Art is pointless without meaning. You can hoard it all you want, but the experience behind it is worth more. You could get a million billies. However you should really ask yourself the value of that art, compared to the friends you've met through art.”

I’ve gotten many pieces made of Billie this year. By folks whose art I enjoyed way before I had Billie and some from really impressive artists I found after I did. I understand that there are people out there that I might never get art from even if there might be others around me who are able to. But I understand that mentality of cherishing the art that has meaning.

And this has meaning.

I can look at this and remember that I exist. That there are people who have accepted me. That are willing to be around me or want me around. It's hard to remember the last time I felt that, if ever. And that’s the most precious thing I could get this year. Hell, maybe that I've gotten in a while.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. All of you.