My name is Brian Johnson, and I was pretty active with the footbag community for a several year period between about '01-'03, at which point certain events were happening in my life that prompted me to leave the game, and the friendships which I had developed during that time. After I bowed out of the game, I gradually started dissociating myself from the world more and more, fighting with depression, anxiety issues, anger etc etc.. Then in early '06 I completely crashed with full fledged obsessive compulsive disorder, and suffice it to say, my mind has been more or less lost for the past two years up until now. I was living out of the family basement, without work or friends, all the while trying to figure out how to get myself back into a life that I would be able to live.
It's now summer of '08, 5 years after I left the footbag community, and I finally managed to get out of the self destructive situation I was in. I am posting this from a completely new city, from my own apartment, and overall life is looking a lot brighter for me.
I am writing this message to apologize to everyone in the community for my abrupt and rude departure from the game, as I never intended to vanish from the face of the earth the way I did back in late '03. I'd also like to apologize for any quarrels I may have had with certain other footbag players, and my overall childish behaviour I may have displayed back when I played this game. I had quite a troubled mind growing up, and I'm only now picking up the pieces trying to rebuild my life. Everything has really taken a 180 degree turn for me, and I'd like to think that I'm not at all the person that I used to be growing up (I hope that's a good thing
), but we we're all young at one point in our lives. 
At any rate, I made a lot of good friends in the footbag community during my time playing, despite what my actions may have indicated at the time. I have so many good memories of playing out in the warm summer sun, and all the amazing events and tournaments that I went to back then. I'd really like to re-connect with anyone I used to know who is still playing. This game was such a great part of my life when it was, and I'm back to at least partially reclaim some of that excitement, and start over again where I left off.
I don't have any crazy plans to compete or anything at this point, I'm just looking to do some simple kicks with great people for good vibrations... There are some very special people in this community.
btw, I live in Regina now, so unless a new club has popped up in the time since I have been away (entirely possible), I don't recall there being a big concentration of shredders in this area. I may think about making travels if there are any summer or fall events taking place around in nearby cities though. At the moment I don't even have lavers or a bag though, so it's a bit too early to contemplate kicking venues anyways... Just glad to be back on these forums, and living life in general.
ps. give me my old account back, member #23 ftw! haha nono, It's not a big deal. It's humorous actually, at one point I blasted out all my old posts because I was paranoid of certain people reading them. I have had quite some strange problems in my past. Here now to put it all behind me.
Love ya guys!
Brian Johnson
