On this day in 2015, I created a few random gameplay sims - Liam, Clarissa and their siblings without any idea what would ensue, originally without the intention to play a legacy with them, but eventually I got pretty attached and in the end decided to use Liam and Clary as founders for it. They became my very first sims legacy that spanned out for many generations (my legacy experience was very sparse at the time, I've only ever played a few 3-generation ones in ts2 as a preteen and didn't really classify them as legacies), and also the first legacy where I've tried some storytelling and became truly attached to the characters.

But they became so much more than just a sims legacy for me eventually. I technically finished the 10-generation run but there was so much to be said and explored - I was indeed rushing the original gameplay a bit for the 10-generation accomplishment and completed it in about a year and a half, but the real deep dive into these guys came later, especially with certain generations (6-7-8 I'm looking at you). So I couldn't stop thinking about them, expanding their stories, giving them makeovers and revamps, experimenting, trying different things, learning more about myself and the world through them. They helped me practice my storytelling and tremendously improve it over the years, and I value them so much for that.

I've had other legacies and stories that ended up becoming very dear to me, but the Fletchers have started it all and are the backbone of everything. These guys brought me so much joy and still continue doing so. Planning their stories over the years has been a highlight of my creative life, and I love how they grew together with me and will continue growing. I'm certain, at this point, they're with me for life and I don't think I will ever run out of the stories I tell about them and things to do with them.