#deployedlife

This turned into a long post. We all have things in our lives that we hold on to because they mean very specific ‘somethings’ to us. Some of us have blankets or ornaments that we have had since we were babies because they mean something. Some of us have printed pictures because we were alive before the digital age and the Internet. And then there’s massive numbers of us who have entertainment etched in our souls because a TV show or movie meant something to us at a time when we really needed it.

Star Trek was always my thing. I grew up watching TOS reruns with my dad, and he let me know a new Star Trek was coming out when I was in high school. I had a shitty high school. I did. My family was awesome, but I remember being bullied and just not having a good time in high school. We didn’t have the Internet, but kids are still mean if they chose to be mean. 

Star Trek TNG literally saved my life. It became a family affair to watch. We had a VHS recording machine that would record when I couldn’t be home. I’ve spent the last few years or so going to conventions and thanking each and every one of the main bridge crew for what they have done for me. I’ve met them all so far except Sir Patrick. I wrote to him, and I hope he knows what he has done for me. 

Then there’s Stargate. The show started when I was in the Navy. The movie came out when I was stationed in school in Tennessee. A few of us went to see it and I thought it was freaking awesome. But that was it. Or so I thought.

In the USA, Stargate SG-1 premiered on the cable channel Showtime. I was stationed in Pensacola, FL and was an E-4. I had zero money for cable at the time. Then in 2000, I got stationed in Hawaii after spending 13 months stationed in Diego Garcia. In Hawaii, I was part of a small 10-man deployable satellite tactical support facility for P-3 aircraft. I was the only female. And deploy did we ever. I was gone a lot with the guys. I got along with them all for the most part, but we didn’t see eye to eye on some things. But, they always looked out for me no matter how we felt about each other. My second year there we got a new guy in the unit who told me about SG-1. That new guy would go on to become my husband of almost 18 years now.

I still didn’t pay for cable. I was in Hawaii. Why would I spend my time indoors watching TV when I could be outside paddling or surfing? By then, 2000, I think I recall SG-1 coming out on DVD in the USA. I remember buying a DVD player and watching. Holy shit I was hooked! I was watching another small deployable military unit with only one female in it! And I also was hooked on MacGyver, so I already had the hots for RDA. 

Then there was Amanda Tapping. I’m not sure I can even put this into words how her character of Samantha Carter affected me, but her portrayal was spot on. Sam wasn’t oversexualized at all (at Amanda’s demands that her character not be). Sam seemed real and someone who you could hang out with after work. Sam inspired me on deployments to places I have no desire to ever return to. She is smart. She is beautiful. She is confident. She’d kick your ass if you deserved it. She stood up for herself and her team. And after all of that, Samantha still knows how to love. Amanda made Sam relatable in a time when I really needed it. I have ALWAYS wanted Sam and Jack to be together. Always. 

I would bring my DVDs home to visit family on leave and me and my mom would watch at least two episodes a night. I brought my DVDs on deployment with me so I could watch one episode before having to sleep on my 12 on / 12 off rotations. The realness of the show, and the realness of Samantha Carter have stuck with me all this time. Then I found out about this awesome world of fanfiction so now I write about Stargate on AO3. I love this community and am so grateful I have found you!

I have been out of the Navy since 2004, and yet Stargate is still very much alive inside of me, and fans want more. I’ve tried to see Stargate folks at cons, but something had always seemed to happen and then I couldn’t go. I was supposed to FINALLY see Amanda at Momentocon this year, but COVID. I even paid for a meet and greet with her, and I was to be in the seat directly next to her. Thankfully, it transferred to Momentocon 2021. So I am still holding out to finally see Amanda.

It seems we are getting closer to having a new Stargate show. While I will watch for the mythos and technology and all that is Stargate, all I really want is my Sam and Jack confirmation. We all can say SG-1 and Atlantis gave us enough clues that they are together, I just want it on the record. I’ll be 50 in February 2021, and to this day I gush over Sam and Jack. And that is OK. It’s OK for us to have things to dream of, write of, draw of, paint of, dance of, and talk of. This world needs the arts more than ever. How awesome will it be to have Stargate come back and feed our imaginations again!