#@lifeseverchanging

Two weeks ago, I met the beautiful mademoiselle @lifeseverchanging, in her town. My first meetup with a Romy pal!

We spent two days drinking coffee, eating delicious food, getting lost finding a botanic garden. And yakking about the heroes who brought us together: Remy ’n’ Rogue 4eva. AND . . .

Yessir, I made my Tumblr avatar a tattoo, above my right elbow. My very first tattoo!

. . . And so did @lifeseverchanging . . . not of a speech bubble, but a sneaky little girl, like her own kitties; Remy’s kitties; and the kitty heroine who persuaded her into the comicbook shop, where she first discovered X-men Gold #30! (See the resemblance?)

Since 2017, @lifeseverchanging and I have been chatting, by Slack and by phone, and by virtue of our other Romy friends (you know who you are) who made an incredible community for strangers to become real-life friends. During a tough year, I’m grateful for this. My tattoo is a reminder to me of how good we’ve been, even if we all scatter one day.

My birthday passed recently, and I’m overwhelmed by the love and generosity of the Romy-fan community. You guys are some of the biggest-hearted, schmoopiest people I’ve ever not met.

I bragged to everyone . . . and cried a little too.

:*)

@ludi-ling, my first Romy friend and sister-in-arms, sent me a “deleted scene” from Arrow of Time! It’s the classic push and pull between Remy ’n’ Rogue, set in the tragic Days of Future Past universe . . . Romy at their best and their worst right before the storm.

@jehilew then emailed me a beautiful illustrated edition of the cutest angst fic I’ve ever seen, involving Rogue and her teddy bear named . . . (I won’t spoil it!) This fic was apparently written with special requests from a very bossy committee, so double thank you, to everyone who contributed. Please check it out: To Rogue, From Remy.

Then the biggest surprise of all was Madame Xevi @xevg, mistress of the Romy-fic blog @fanfictionalrogue, who wrote her very first fic and dedicated to me. I hope this is the first chapter of a saga of kink, perversion, and bed thumping! <3 Please read: The Apprentice.

Fellow Californian and sweetest honeybee @lifeseverchanging mailed me a fabulous writing journal, much nicer than any journal I’d buy myself, with a loving card. I can’t wait to write in it. :*)

And last but far from least . . .

I requested a charming portrait of Nightcrawler from the talented @cajuncajole and holy moly. A bonanza of Romy and Kurt goodness showed up. In addition, dastardly postcard of the fuzzy elf and a floppy of my faaaaave cover of X-men Red. And an original Romy special on the cover of X-factor, which I have not dared open from its plastic envelope. This is the cover we all wanted, always.

And a greeting card of kitties and kitty stickers! Riley, you are too generous, too good. :**) 

Was I nervous about turning 37? Yes.

Is this the best birthday ever? Damned yes.