HAPPY BIRTH MONTH BUFFY!

[red_satin_doll]

A bit of (free) advice for the belated birthday girl:

Dear Buffy,

If THIS is your lesbian best friend's idea of a vibrator...then it's probably time to get yourself some more lesbian friends.

For that matter, it's probably time your lesbian friend got herself some more lesbian friends.




And they say I'm off my game...what the hell am I supposed to do with this on patrol, massage the demons to death?

****************

My friend wickedbish and the folks at the Sunnydale Herald reminded me that Sunday the 19th (more or less) was Buffy Summer's 33rd birthday.
(The really-real Buffy, of course. Accept no substitutes.)

I like to think that where ever in the world Buffy might be, she'd be enjoying herself right now, doing what she does best: dancing, fighting, fucking; treating herself to a spa day with Dawn in Rome; watching the sun rise to greet yet another day she'd never thought she live long enough to see.

Falling a little in love with the light every where she goes in the world. Visiting Paris because her mother had longed to as a young woman, before babies and her husband's career got in the way - and steadfastly avoiding the Eiffel Tower. (There's facing your fears, Buffy decides, and then there's masochism. Buffy isn't a masochist anymore.)

Wondering what tomorrow will bring and marveling that she can conceptualize "tomorrow". Leading an army into battle, or counseling a single girl in the privacy of her office. (She doesn't spend a lot of time in her office, but she likes knowing it's there. And that it has a great view of the Thames, a sturdy lock on the door; and a dent in the wall next to the file cabinet that a certain someone made when the two of them were...hence the lock on the door.)

Still saving, and changing, the world - with a little help from her friends.

She's saved my life this year - a lot: helped me process and deal with immediate traumas and distant ghosts; offered me a safe space to laugh, to grieve, and sometimes a haven from "real world" cares for a little bit. I've found support, encouragement, and connection, even if I've had to bite my tongue or wanted to tear my hair out at times. (Admit it : we've all been there.) She opened the door to this little corner of the universe called "buffyverse fandom" that is comforting, confounding and glorious, much like Buffy herself.

Comments

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

Well, I got here eventually... This is.. You are totally right that I would love it because I completely do.

33? Wow, that's pretty amazing - our girl made it to 33 (holy crap, how old is Dawnie now?). And I love the idea of her running around Europe, falling in love with the world (and the light), happy and free - no more masochism indeed - with her family, with her friends, with lovers, and most importantly, with herself.

What you've described here? This isn't just what I want for Buffy, this is what I want for myself (especially the bit with the office looking out at the Thames. I love being near the river and my best friend lives right on the banks so it gives me more reasons to love her - and hate her, but I already have a long list about that - so next time we go out for lunch down by Embankment (her coffee, me tea,) I'll be thinking about Buffy, looking down on us and being happy).

She's saved my life this year - a lot: helped me process and deal with immediate traumas and distant ghosts; offered me a safe space to laugh, to grieve, and sometimes a haven from "real world" cares for a little bit. I've found support, encouragement, and connection, even if I've had to bite my tongue or wanted to tear my hair out at times. (Admit it : we've all been there.) She opened the door to this little corner of the universe called "buffyverse fandom" that is comforting, confounding and glorious, much like Buffy herself.

This whole paragraph here is perfect. And we chat about these things all the time; about how she saved us, through the show, through new-found friends *points at you*, through fanworks and I'm sure a thousand other ways. Buffy not only offered respite from my pains and worries (hospital writing ftw!), but she gave me someone to identify with. She gave me a smart, powerful woman who struggled with the same things I did (depression, love, loss, heartbreak, abandonment, growing up with a world on my shoulders so heavy I forgot I was so small), and she did it with grace. She suffered, of course she did; she hurt, she made bad decisions - she made human decisions. And despite what the writers try to pull, no one will ever tell me different. If Buffy can do it, so can I.

Everybody's comments, all their stories, they give me hope. I love all you guys so much. This fandom is my favourite of them all.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh hon, I'm so glad you like it! And I'm so pleased that the description of Buffy's office rings true to you - I swiped that from a fanfic draft I did a few months back, imagining her life after Chosen (she also has a flat in London...with a lock on the door - and nobody else's name on the lease. I think she'd want a place that was entirely her own.)

But I had NO idea if any office buildings actually overlook the Thames! I just made an educated guess (London is a big modern city so there MUST be office buildings overlooking the Thames), and figured my friends in the UK would ding me if I got anything wrong. So the fact that's got your seal of approval pleases me so much.

And your description of lunch times with your friend and Buffy looking down on you on the two of you? OH GOODNESS THIS MAKES ME SMILE ALL THE WAY TO MY INSIDES.

BTW - I'm a tea drinker (not coffee) too! Do you prefer any particular varieties? I drink all sorts - except earl grey. Buffy however is a coffee drinker like your friend.)

(holy crap, how old is Dawnie now?).</>

Um....how old was she by the end of the series? In my head she's 17 (it doesn't help that her birthday isn't celebrated on the show. In fact the ONLY person whose b'day is shown besides Buffy is Tara. Huh.) I don't know if that's accurate or not but 25 - 27 seems a safe range?

she gave me someone to identify with. She gave me a smart, powerful woman who struggled with the same things I did (depression, love, loss, heartbreak, abandonment, growing up with a world on my shoulders so heavy I forgot I was so small), and she did it with grace. She suffered, of course she did; she hurt, she made bad decisions - she made human decisions. And despite what the writers try to pull, no one will ever tell me different. If Buffy can do it, so can I.

YES TO EVERY WORD OF THIS.

I think - I KNOW - I would have had a much more difficult time getting through the housefire, and through the pain that kept me housebound this past year, without Buffy and her friends to write about, to identify with; to offer examples of strength, intelligence, love and incredible endurance; without the support of friends (like you!) and so many people in this fandom to connect with.

Our fandom is a good fandom.

ETA - I have no idea why my last paragraphs are showing up in italics. Oh LJ you do bedevil me....

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

Most of the buildings along the river are office blocks - my friend's flat used to be one itself, it's a really famous old building (lives with parents - hell if either of us could afford a place like that if we pooled our money and sold our souls).

Tea, ah, tea appreciation life. I usually drink plain ol' English tea (dash of milk, no sugar) because my Mum used to give it to me in my bottle as a baby - and how English did that sound? Especially when I add on the fact I never eat crumpets or scones without a cuppa - but since the tube-fiasco, I wasn't allowed to drink anything but water for two months, and then my first cup of tea had some slightly sour milk. I haven't been able to drink it since. It's been green tea all the way (which is perfectly nice, and a healthy alternative, but not quite the same).

And yes, our fandom is a wonderful fandom!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

because my Mum used to give it to me in my bottle as a baby

OMG if the doctors in America heard THAT....*lol*

Oh that has to have been awful - you'd been waitiing for MONTHS to have a nice cuppa no doubt.

We have a good organic ceylon that we'll blend with the green pearl jasmine tea (which is outrageously expensive so we get just a little of it). But I know what you mean we have green teas here but it's not the same as a cup of black with milk (no suger here either.) We like to blend teas - get a cheap one to stretch out the more expensive.

I found a brand online called "London Cuppa" in round bags that I quite like. (We've tried all sorts here - the really good stuff comes from Harney and Sons - some of it's expensive but the basic teas are quite reasonable for the quality.)
https://www.harney.com
That's where we picked up our addiction to smoky lapsang souchong. That's like my coffee thank you very much.