[Ainaserkewen]

I keep encountering former Tolkien lovers on other non-related forums. People with usernames like "elvenlady" and "LordMorgoth" and I ask them if they are fans and they say "I used to be, now I can't change my username." And I ask them about their former fanhood. Many tell me that they were right in there, reading the Silm, the various companions, going to the big websites and talking about nothing but the Lord of the Rings. Now they're just usernames.

I know it will never die for me. I've got my book collection and my three movie posts looming over my bed. A reminder that it's part of me.