HGG Community Forums

With our sincerest gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving.

On February 27th of this year, we purchased a new house in a lovely walkable neighborhood, five minutes from our dream school for our daughter. We were watching the news of a spreading virus in case it impacted travel but everything seemed ok. I was in the air and bound for Bulgaria the same day of the house closure. I was there for some much-needed rest and stress relief. By the end of that two week “destress” break, the world was in chaos and I was terrified for what would happen to my business and what COVID might do to someone with autoimmune issues and lung scarring like myself.

Nine months later, every single one of us has been touched by this pandemic. All of us know someone who has had it. Some of us are sick with it right now. Many of us have lost loved ones. I am keenly aware that statistically, given the number of users we have, this community has lost some people to it too. This has been a grueling and traumatic year.

In March we braced for the worst, what I had not expected was the sheer level of kindness and commitment people in the community have. Hundreds of you participated in our first-ever June gift exchange. You helped care for and lift each other up. Despite the uncertainty of the times, in a moment when I expected people to turn inward and care for their own households only, you continued to support mine, and you continue to support each other.

We are deeply humbled that during the worst tragedy any of us have ever experienced, you still thought about our little horse game. Still cared enough to check-in, and to support us. We braced for the worst and you all showed us the best.

Nothing about 2020 went as expected. I am not grateful for the suffering this year has brought, but I am grateful for what it has shown me. I may not be seeing my biological family this year, but my HAJ family has had my back. How can the head of any community not be deeply moved by that?

I sincerely hope you enjoy all the end of year festivities in the game, and I can’t wait until we can properly celebrate the end of this pandemic too.

With my deepest love, gratitude, and wishes for health to you and yours.
Hugs and carrots,
Ellie “Ammit” Akers