I’ve written every week, sometimes more than once a week, here at That’s Normal for the last seven years. My first post was in November 2012. That’s Normal was new, coming off the Twilight Saga momentum and our very epic trip as Letters To Twilight fans and friends to the Breaking Dawn 2 premiere in LA, when Jamie S texted me to ask if I wanted to write something about the upcoming Mortal Instruments movie because she knew … I had opinions. Nikki, Bekah and Jamie were the only contributors at the time, but I had written for LTT before. I knew exactly what I needed to say about that upcoming shitstorm of a movie. No problem. I didn’t know then that I would start writing and just … never stop.
That’s Normal has helped define my 30s. It was a place I openly embraced my obsession with fandoms, books, television and … being right. I had small children when this began, and now I have two gorgeous teenage girls who are both getting their braces off this month. I had nascent, unformed views about comic books and fantasy novel adaptations, but now I can spot a world-building plot hole with my eyes barely cracked open. I’ve been a writer my entire life, but never have my words reached the audience that they gained here. The feedback that TN readers have provided me has been responsible for some of the proudest moments of my creative life. I’ve had internet friends since the early 2000s, and I’ve had fandom friends since I started posting on the Television Without Pity boards in 2005, but I’ve never considered my online friendships, my fandom friendships, some of the most important in my life until I made them here. You know who you are.
I have loved being able to bring you guys book recommendations. It is a pure joy to me to see someone say that they read and loved Melina Marchetta or Captive Prince or Ruby Dixon. Guys, we gushed about Sierra Simone LIVE on the internet with Sarah MacLean! This trip has been truly bananas.
And I can’t talk about it without talking about Outlander. Look, I was just writing about a book I loved getting a TV show, and you all showed up. I let my excitement for Jamie Fraser jump out, and you guys jumped on it. I sat in a room with Tobias Menzies and quietly discussed upcoming theater projects. I helped Caitriona Balfe with her dress in a bathroom. We alienated entire swaths of a fandom with one tweet. No matter where our relationship with that crazy show took us, I am forever grateful that I wrote about it, and it brought so many of you here. What a joy. What an absolutely ridiculous thing that has meant so much.
The Things I Wrote that I Hope You Read
The Most Popular: Let Me Introduce You To Sam Heughan
The Most Prescient: How To Avoid Fandom Drama
The Schaedenfreudiest: One Ring to Rue Them All
The 2nd Most Popular: Things My Husband Says During Outlander
The Best Researched: What Jim and Pam Taught Me About Shipping
The Bookiest: Beth’s Book Suggestions
The Meanest: Reese Witherspoon Gets Arrested and I am Not Shocked
The Softest: Best New Romance of the Year – Yuri on Ice
The (One I’m) Proudest of: The Real Horror of A Quiet Place
The Angriest: Top Ten Moments from Outlander 413 Man of Worth
And this, The Last.
Leaving you with this Jamie Fraser quote that we all know, and love, and seems apropos: “When the day shall come that we do part,” he said softly, and turned to look at me, “if my last words are not ‘I love you’-ye’ll ken it was because I didna have time.”
Thank you for reading. Thank you for every retweet and comment and share. Thank you. If you want to find me online after this, you will be able to. My Twitter and Instagram handles are the same as my future website: bethorne. See you soon. (And don’t worry. Hangoutlander is here.)
