As I sit writing this, the first snows have started to fall in my quiet northern town. Winter is upon us.  People become more isolated at this time of the year.  We stay at home and watch kids in the hall reruns.  We sit and type out columns for net magazines.  Solitary.  Disconnected.  Cold.  Alone.

As I sat writing this, I just got an E-mail from Decipher. They've canceled Deciphercon. Winter, it seems, is upon STCCG. People are becoming isolated. We will stay in our home towns re-running old decks.  Reading tourney reports on on-line magazines.  Solitary, Disconnected, Cold and Alone.

Summer 2001 was the Summer of 'Trek for me. After years of being the best in my region (no real competition-- Ferenginar is the Worst Region on Earth) I had finally made a read impact on the tourney scene elsewhere. I drove to Vancouver.  I drove to Saskatoon.  I flew to Toronto.  I drove to Detroit.  I flew to London (the real one... not that lousy counterfeit in Ontario)  I defeated Ken Tuffts.  I lost to Dave Bowling.  I defeated Jason Drake 100  to 0... and lost to Jason Drake by the same margin. I met Joeri Hoste and Marcus Marcus Marcus Sheppard. I got drunk with the Notorious Steven Tobin.  I played games against Germans, Brits, Italians, Americans, Canadians, someone from Wales, two members of team Westside, three members of team Britania, two former members of the A-team, 18 ambassadors and the base player of the punk band "Second Floor Daycare."

I played against a lot of great people.

Everywhere I went, I found a community.  A nation of people, united not by language, nor by race, but by interest. United by sportsmanship. United by friendship.  In Saskachewan, Rob asked me to say hello to Roxanne in Vancouver. In B.C. Michael Van Bremmen told me to pass a warm greeting along to Matt in Detroit.  Lee Sneathen told me to say "hi" to Ian Taylor in London.  People who knew each other. People who had formed friendships at Deciphercon. Star Trek CCG exists because it has a community-- without community the game will die.

On Monday I had finalized my plans to be at Deciphercon-- I had finally bought my ticket. For the first time ever I had qualified. I am sad to say that I might not plan to go next year-- I will never be as good at the game as I am right now-- I'm already feeling my age. I doubt I will ever qualify again.

This summer was the summer of STCCG. Will the winter go on forever?

        --Olav