HappyStick

The first Saturday after I got my Ingress invite I hosted my first meetup.  The event itself I consider a miracle.  For years I had been dealing with depression and Anxiety and this was the first time in years that I was taking a risk and putting myself out there.  What made me so brave?  Throughout the year I thought it must be the XM that was changing me.  But in hindsight I now realize that it was the community that accepted me exactly as I was that changed me.

I have a lot of memories from that first meetup.  In fact I seem to recall every detail of that whole day, but there is one piece that stands out more then all the others.  +Bryan Kroger and I arrived at the Designated Starbucks and I pulled out my sign that read "We are the Resistance" and waited nervously for someone to show up.  After about 5 minutes someone tentatively looked at my sign and then looked me in the eye, I asked if they were Resistance they nodded and quickly found a place to sit and we chatted a little.

A few more people came and went but no one interested in my sign.  Then the door opened and in walked what I can still only describe as a human stick figure with attitude.  He was 6'9" but slouched a little to hide his height, very thin and a presence that clearly communicated his confidence.  He came right up to me and introduce himself as HappyStick.  I shook his hand and I remember thinking well this is going to be interesting.

That encounter stands out so vividly because without that encounter nothing that transpired after that day would have been possible.  The Seattle Resistance probably would not have been such a dominant force in the early days of Ingress, I would not have found my voice as a community leader, I would not have found confidence to share the Seattle Resistance stories and gain visibility on G+.  I called him my partner in crime.

I got a lot of credit in the early days for things that would not have happened without HappyStick.

We were total opposites.  While he was fast passed with a go go attitude, I'm generally reserved and want to collect information before making a move.  But we were both opinionated and knew we were right.  Between 1 AM AP runs, marathon 20 hour road trips and lots of socializing I often felt myself being swept along the HappyStick train.  But truth be told I absolutely loved it.   Having someone that I trusted show up to or invite me to every event gave me a confidence I had never know.  

HappyStick is a constant Beta tester.  I'm sure we've all known guys like this.  They dive into something new and exciting with gusto, devoting all their time and energy to it.  Eventually they solve all the puzzles or the game looses it's appeal and they are off to something new.  Although his time as an agent was short HappyStick was a force of nature who's presence is still evident throughout the Ingress Universe.

HappyStick was a great friend, one I will never forget.  I hope I get a chance to run into him some day and tell him thank you for helping me find my voice.