Fandom Snowflake 2021: Challenge #10

Challenge #10: write a love letter to Fandom in general, to a particular fandom, to a trope, a relationship, a character, creator, episode, or it could be your fandom friends.

Thank you, fandom, for always giving me something to look forward to.

Maybe it's a new movie or show coming up, and I'm sharing the breathless anticipation with other soon-to-be fans. Or I've just seen that new thing and I'm eager to find out what everyone else is squeeing over. Maybe it's thinking, I can't wait to see what my favorite fan artists do with this character or moment. What my favorite authors will write to give me a little more time with these people, this world.

Maybe it's the long backlog of bookmarked fic. The mark-for-laters. The saved html pages. The downloaded .epub files. Sometimes I feel bad about the things I haven't gotten to yet. But sometimes, it's nice to know they're waiting for me. Nice to know how much more there is still to enjoy when I'm ready.

Maybe it's the sudden thought that I haven't reread that old favorite in a long time. The file paths familiar as old leather bindings, the digital line breaks long since memorized. A sensation like deciding to call up a friend out of the blue and knowing they'll answer. Because they've always answered and always will, hard drive backups willing.

Fandom will always find something new to love, because it is built on unabashed enthusiasm. Fandom will always make something new to share, because it is built on the creative impulse.