my stranger things story
so i’ve had a few glasses of wine (like anyone is surprised) and it just hit me that this Saturday is July 15th. YOU GUYS. That is one whole year of Stranger Things in my life.
I can remember that day so clearly. It was a Friday, I was two weeks away from my wedding and my job had been crazy. 50+ hour weeks and my work phone glued to my hand. I was so tired and stressed out. My husband (to be) and I decided to stay in, drink beer and just relax. we watched a movie, I don’t even remember what it was but it was okay. then we turned on Netflix to find something else.
Stranger Things was right on top since it debuted that day and although I hadn’t heard of it before, it immediately had my interest. I’ve always been a sucker for 80s movies and shows. My husband thought it looked “stupid” (I will never let him live this down) but said fine. we started episode 1. My husband said, “oh my god they’re playing D&D”, which he also plays so he was excited. I said, “I bet this Mike kid ends up being a dick.” Once the opening credits started and the synth filled the room, I turned to him and said, with wide eyes, “I LOVE this show.” His response: “Of course you do.” And I hadn’t even met my best girl yet!
By the next afternoon we had finished the season. I glanced through Tumblr and saw a few gifs I liked. Time moved on. I went home. I made my best friend watch it. I got married. over the next month I rewatched the show and couldn’t get it out of my head. I searched for fic, finding a whopping 42 on AO3. 42! i got all my coworkers to watch and love it. my coworker and I got to run down and see the cast at AOL and it was the best day ever.
a story slowly brewed in my head and I eventually posted it, thinking it would be a oneshot and I would move on. i was so wrong and I couldn’t be happier about it. it led to me meeting so many great people, like @dadharbour, @richiehoezier, @ghost-grantaire, @myheartisfullofstrangerthings, @forfutureglory, @eggos-and-promises, @theamiableanachronism, @justanotherfabulousfanatic, @itcouldbendoritcouldbreak, @baileytsample, @the-weirdo-on-maple-street, @atimeofwhichwehavenoknowledge, @richiegayzier and so many more. Oh yeah, and my soulmate @elevenknope :)
long story short, I love this show and I love this fandom. And I will probably never emote this much again.
PS- thank you all for accepting my writing and also my slow transformation into a human meme ;)
This was TWO YEARS AGO. But you know what? It still rings true.
My life has changed so much since I posted this, so SO much in the past three years. But I’m so glad to still be around and know you wonderful people.
I still love all of the people above but have met so many more now, like @formerlyjannafaye, @1980s-jean-ralphio, @jim-hopper-superhero, @el-and-hop, @jane-el-hopper, @she-who-the-river-could-not-hold, @elwheeler011, @nothollywheeler, @thezoomermax, @sadiesinkt, @caseyk112, @lucascsinclairs, @janeswheeler, @mikeswheeler, @the-mall-rats, @you-wont-lose-me, @the-paris-of-people, @alabasterswriting, @sstrangerthaneleven and more that I am surely forgetting.
And, of course, @maxmayfield. Always and forever.
Okay, emoting time is done for the next year.
Welp, I had to resurrect this because today is FIVE YEARS. Time is wild. I miss these people, I miss this fandom, I miss my creative self. But I also love my offline life so much more than I did then. I’ll be back for season 4 though!
And as always, the best gift this show gave me was my soulmate, @maxmayfield 💙
FIVE YEARS????
I love that we’re both in a happier and better place than we were back then, but wow. Can’t believe it’s been five years since I was timidly chatting with my favourite fic author, wondering how she even knew I existed.
CHEERS!
Going on TEN YEARS now and like…what is time? I hope everyone I mentioned above is living their best life now. I look back on this time so fondly 💙
