Buckle up kids. This is a long post about my wonderful @dinglehorton
I’ve been thinking long and hard about what I want to do to show my appreciation to Mel. I’m not talented. I can’t make a gifset of their favorite things or a write a story featuring Will Horton, David Platt, and Reid Oliver (oh lord how I wish I could). But I want to express just how much they’ve meant to me this past year.
Fandom is a funny thing. It’s a wonderful place to meet people who share a common interest with you but it also has a way of bringing out the worst in both yourself and in others. When I left the Glee fandom, I vowed to be forever done with fandom life. Glee utterly drained me. It’s not a coincidence that the last years of the show, when I was most active in Tumblr fandom, were also the years where my depression was at a dangerous low.
So, when Glee ended….I was done. I met some great people who I’ve been following for years, which spilled over to Instagram and Facebook. Our paths have diverged over the years but I would ride or die with those guys. I’m too invested in their lives to completely cut them out of my own. But fandom life? No more. I eventually went days without going on Tumblr. Days turned into weeks and I eventually deleted the app from my phone. I even forgot my password at one point.
But when I DID go on Tumblr, I’d see some people post things about Rob and Aaron. I knew who Aaron was --I had watched his coming out story in 2008 and I was a bit intrigued to see what he was up to. So I investigated a bit and liked what I saw. I watched the clips from Robert confessing to Aaron he slept with Rebecca and I was GONE. I needed to watch more. I dove headfirst into my watch and started to follow more Robron/Emmerdale blogs. Some people followed me back, including Mel, but I was committed to being a lurker.
I don’t remember HOW I came across Mel’s page. But I did and liked their content a lot. We didn’t talk….not until I mentioned Luke and Reid. My first message from them was crying over the what could have been with that couple.
My second:
“just wanna let you know that ily and you’re so so so so so so kind like????!!! you’re so nice idk what to do with it half the time and if i could i would wrap you up in a blanket and feed you your fav foods and beverages and watch all our fav tv shows together <33333333”
And if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about Mel, then I don’t know what will.
They weren’t afraid to talk to me. Or let me dump a load of feels over Robert/Aaron or Luke/Reid into their ask box. They didn’t brush me off or ignore me, which is what I found a lot of the times in the Glee fandom. They were kind. Generous. Funny. And absolutely wonderful to me. My interactions with Mel made me feel that maybe the Emmerdale fandom was different. That people were more open with one another. Because of Mel, I got over myself and messaged other people. I took a few steps into being a bit more active in the fandom.
And guess what? People *actually* talked to me. Responded to my asks and messages. Started coming to my inbox. Shared their social media with me. Became invested in MY LIFE.
Because of Mel.
I’m not joking when I say that Mel is the reason I am in this fandom and the reason why I’ve stayed in it.
This fandom has its moments, don’t get me wrong. I’m fortunate that I don’t get the gross stuff in my inbox that a lot of others get (including Mel) but when I do get it or see it, I…react. And a lot of times, Mel has stood up for me and defended me from nasty people. But I still enjoy this fandom. I still love the interactions I have with others. I still love reading meta (oh god do I love meta). I love reading fics. I love discovering people’s other interests.
I cry over Mel’s talent all of the time.
One thing I appreciate about Mel is their willingness to be open about their health and struggles, which has made me be more open about my own. And when I’m having a shit day, Mel will send me a message making me feel loads better. Mel lives their life honestly and genuinely. They are what we all should strive to be like in fandom.
Simply put, Mel has had a huge impact on my life that goes beyond fandom. I’m so fortunate they live in Minnesota because when I go back and visit my fam, I’ll have the opportunity to see Mel in person and gave them the hug I’m so stoked to give.
Mel, I love you. All of us who know you are better for it. Thank you for sending me that first message about Luke and Reid. Thank you for being a friend (as the Golden Girls’ theme song starts playing...)
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
