Ten years of the 21st Century and the 3rd Millennium
Ten years ago. The dawn of a new century. And everyone was totally freaked about Y2K. Does anyone even talk about it anymore? Geo and I had our first computer. We watched the news from New Zealand and Australia. When things did not go belly-up, we knew we'd be okay.
What comes to mind when I think of the 2000s? Top of the list: discovery of fandom. I became stupidly active in on-line fandom. (And in some regards, I do mean "stupidly.") I wrote and shared fic for the first time, with strangers. I wrote long essays analyzing characters and plot lines. I read a metric ton or more of fic.
I was drawn into on-line fandom by an awesome actor, Michael Hurst, and from there I discovered others, eventually leading to my discovery of Jensen Ackles. I also discovered Garett Maggart, though unfortunately he's disappeared from the television landscape. I gained an appreciation for Rob Morrow's work and the fine actor he is.
And speaking of TV . . . FARSCAPE! I-Man! The Sentinel! CSI!!! (Dude, CSI.) Wonderfalls. NUMB3RS!!!! Pushing Daisies! SUPERNATURAL!!!
I attended my first fan convention in March 2000. Before 9/11.
I attended a few other small cons. I actually met actors.
And I met friends on-line who became friends in RL.
9/11. Shaped the decade. Innocence gone. Perception of the world around us changed.
Gained and lost the best job I've ever had. A job where not only did I enjoy the people I worked with, but I loved the work itself. The only job I never once had a moment of dread going in to work. The only job where I had moments of "I can't believe they're paying me to do this."
Came into my own more so than ever as an amateur thespian.
Spent way too much time on-line, staying up late in fan chat rooms. Part of me feels like I truly frittered away my 30s.
On the flip side, the internet provided me with a social life I don't have in my everyday life.
Had a blast getting together with fangirls who share my interests in characters and actors.
Saw my home congregation build a new church building.
Traveled to California multiple times. Visited Disneyworld. Visited Hollywood.
Moved from Ohio, where I'd spent my entire life, to Virginia.
Discovered that the odds are against my ever having children.
Found doctors who know what's going on with me.
There's been a lot of good, a lot of not-so-good, and a lot of change in the past ten years.
To my internet-found friends who have been with me for years, and to those who decided to know me beyond the internet, thank you for your friendship. You're very dear to me.
To those whom I only know through the internet, but have known me for years (there are a few of you here), thank you for sticking with me. You are part of the landscape of my life story.
To those more recent f-listies who are no less important, thank you for making yourselves known. Here's to getting to know one another better with time.
Happy New Year, and Happy 2010 to all!