My Life on the “G” List

Well, for one maniacal, truly obsessed “TWILIGHTER” (as we fans are dubbed), March 20th can’t get here soon enough. Back in December, a bit after the initial Twilight hoopla had passed, my gal pal Becky called me up and wanted to go see the movie. My friend Jessica had told me that she was reading the book series sometime last summer, but I didn’t really think much more about it. When Becky called me about the movie, I thought, “OK, no harm in that – maybe I’ll enjoy it.” Talk about the understatement of the millennium!! If there’s a more obsessed fan of the Stephenie Meyer series out there than myself, I dare him or her to look me up. We’ll see who wins the contest.

To date, I have seen the movie now 30+ times. Yes, I admit that freely and openly. I can think of far worse addictions than something as innocent as a movie. After seeing the movie the first time I was hooked. I had to know the rest of the story. One by one, I bought and read all of the books – “Twilight,” “New Moon,” “Eclipse,” and “Breaking Dawn.” I literally couldn’t put them down. For a period of weeks beginning in January and ending sometime in early to mid-February I did nothing but read. I am now reading book two (New Moon) again. I am trying to remind myself of all the details seeing as how the next movie is scheduled to be released on November 20th this fall.

After the initial fascination with the movie, I found myself drawn back over and over again – partly because I love the story and the world of the Pacific Northwest part of the country — and partly because I think Robert Pattinson is about the most beautiful Brit I’ve ever laid eyes on. I fell in love with “Edward” from the first time I saw him in the movie and he continued to draw me back to the darkened theater for another rendezvous with my dream man – or dream vamp as it turns out. We should all be so lucky as to come across that one person we absolutely cannot live without — and who can’t exist without us. It might well be fantasy, but it’s one that became very personal to me. During a time in my life when I was feeling completely discouraged and a failure (after losing my job) I desperately needed a diversion. The Twilight Saga became that diversion and I am a different and better person because of it.

To date, I now own several posters, magazines (with Twilight related covers), specialty mags, memorabilia, trading cards and more — and I am stopping by Barnes & Noble tomorrow to pick up my copy of the Twilight Director’s Notebook being released just days before the DVD release this weekend. I mentioned some trading cards as part of my massive shrine to all things Twilight. I spent ridiculous amounts of money at Hot Topic at the local mall buying pack after pack of cards trying to get a complete 72 card set. I also got some of the rare “extra” cards that were randomly inserted in the packs. I had to buy so many packs (to get the ones I needed) that I was able to give an almost complete second set to my friend Becky so she could have a set of her own. Now, I still have a large set of extra cards I could probably start another set with just a few missing cards here and there. I think I single-handedly kept Hot Topic in business the week that I was buying my cards. I was sometimes going twice a day to buy more. I’m surprised they didn’t offer me a job so I could get a discount!

This Friday evening will find me back at that store for the official Twilight DVD Release Party. Some 200+ Twilighters will be on hand to have fun watching the film together in the store, along with refreshments, giveaways, trivia and more. It should be good fun. At the end of the evening, of course, we will all walk away with our pre-ordered copies of the special edition DVD. One of the perks ordering it from Hot Topic is that with Hot Topic being the official Twilight merchandise store, we get limited edition, numbered film cells from the movie that will be framed and inserted randomly into our DVD packaging. There are 250 different “Edward” images and I will have one of my very own.

Yes, you could say I’m a little obsessed (or a lot) and I have no problem with that. Twilight re-introduced me to the wonderful world of literature and has inspired me to find my own story – a world that maybe someday down the road will introduce readers to another wonderful world of fantasy, the likes of Harry Potter and Twilight. Friday can’t get here soon enough. The party begins officially at 10 p.m. and should be a fun evening spent with other fans who are [almost] as crazy as I am in my obsession. Bring it on!

P.S. Oh, and it case you hadn’t already noticed (as if), I think you can see where my latest inspiration for a blog header came from. Just thought I’d point out the obvious…