As I mentioned yesterday, Supernatural is my go-to for mindless background, white-noise when I want sound, but not anything to concentrate on.
I’m reminded of this more this week as Supernatural celebrates its 20th anniversary and I celebrate just over a decade in recovery through depression and anxiety. Mental health wellness is a continuum rather than a cure, and having our coping tools to help us through the rough patches is one of the keys.
On Saturday, the fandom celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the premiere of Supernatural. The show ended its run five years ago, and its popularity has only grown with meet & greets, conventions, and the fans following the actors on to new projects, continuing to buy the merch and donating to worthy causes through Stands and Random Acts!
I had toyed with the idea of posting a reflection on Saturday, the day of the anniversary, but I also thought I would actually approach the anniversary the way I approached my watching of the original series: late.
I did not come to the fandom when it premiered in 2005, but during its hiatus on its way to the second half of its seventh season. I had a lot of catching up to do, and I made it, just barely when the show returned with the second half, and I’ve been with them ever since.
I brought my teenage daughter along for the ride and that has also been an exciting dimension to this fandom as well.
I’ve written before how I’ve never been big on horror, and Supernatural felt like horror, so I avoided it. Luckily for me, my friend wrote up a trigger list for each episode so I could go in with my eyes open and make the choices as I went along. I’ve seen every episode except Bugs and I don’t plan on seeing that one even now.
I was also in the middle of a new diagnosis of severe depression, and Supernatural was really one of the things that kept me in a solid place as we adjusted medication, found a therapist, and began writing as therapy. Supernatural was a big part of that recovery, and continued to be a go-to when I need something in the background to keep my mind still. I’ll talk more about this later today when I publish today’s Mental Health Monday, coming this afternoon.
The Pilot episode gives a good introduction to the characters and their journey; however, my first episode was The French Mistake with breaks all of the fourth walls, and really pulled me into the fandom before it pulled me into the series. If you’re already familiar with the actors and their characters, The French Mistake is a fun episode that still moves the story forward.
So, happy birthday Supernatural! Twenty years since the premiere is a milestone, as is the fifteen years on the air! Let’s go: we’ve got work to do.
Watch the Fundraiser for Democracy, hosted by Lynda Carter, featuring Brad Meltzer, Mark Hamill, Jon Cryer, the casts of The Boys, Supernatural, and Star Trek, and other geeks and nerds who want this American experiment to continue.
I would recommend watching as much as you like, but please watch Mark Sheppard (the sci-fi king!) and Jim Beaver, from Supernatural as they express what many are feeling as only they can, as an immigrant and a veteran, respectively. They both gave a beautiful tribute to this country and freedom.
Felicia Day, taken from her book jacket. (c)2019-2023
Felicia Day is Human Extraordinaire. She’s talented, cute as a button, and has the perfect color red/ginger hair that I strive for. I had known her in geek and fandom circles, and then she appeared in my favorite television show of the moment, Supernatural. Her character was the epitome of geek, nerd, D&D master that I grew up with and grew up as. In honor of her birthday, I am recommending one of her books that I am currently reading.
I borrowed her book, Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity from the e-library at the end of 2019. I read about two chapters in, and knew that a borrowed book, an e-book would not do. I was expected to write in this book – something both foreign to me and impossible to do with an e-book. I broke down and ordered a hard copy in paperback with my Christmas Amazon money and waited until the perfect moment to start.
One word of advice: there is no perfect moment.
Embrace Your Weird book with my go-to post-it notes and the pens I bought especially for working in this book. (c)2023
Some of the tasks are really thought-provoking, and some were emotionally draining, but also exhilarating. I was proud of getting through the tasks thus far. I am not even halfway done with the book. I did put it aside for a time for other (creative) projects, and I’ve picked it up again, and in picking it up, I wanted to share it with you.
There are seven chapters with several parts in each chapter. Each chapter lets you look into yourself and learn what might be holding you back from busting out the creativity and finding your jam. That sentence channels Felicia in all the best ways. Don’t be afraid to try. A lot of the hesitation for me (and for Felicia, as it turns out) is anxiety. Name the monster and it can’t hurt you, or something like that.
The book is go at your own pace, which is why I’ve been able to start it, put it down, and continue it. Notice that I said “continue;” not “start again.” The book, like your creativity, is a never-ending journey that pauses when the need arises and continues when you’re ready. I was ready last week, actually, but the book’s been missing. It was a victim of cleaning for guests, and shoved in a large green tote bag, which I only remembered yesterday morning.
This book breaks two of my rules:
Read and follow the directions as closely as possible.
Write in the book.
Despite my guilty childhood of scribbling in books, writing in books is anathema to me, but I’ve adapted with this special book.
As I struggle to write this last post of the year, I think on the last few weeks. (Because honestly, I can’t remember much further back from then without looking at my calendar or camera roll.) My husband and I started watching Wednesday, the Netflix series. I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch it, but one episode later, and I’m hooked. We’re also finishing Derry Girls and tonight we’ll be watching Banshees of Innisherin for our New Year. This is the first year we are home alone with no kids, and I have a series of stress induced stomach flips thinking about where they are and if they’re safe. One is at a hockey game, and two are out with friends. They’re all responsible, but I still worry. That’s the nature of parenting I suppose.
One of my favorite tea brands and companies is Adagio Teas. They have all the regular teas that you love plus accessories and gifts, but they have a special section on fandom teas.
I started my collection with gifts from friends, and not every tea has agreed with my palate, but they’ve opened me up to try new things.
I have two favorites in particular – The Walking Dead Daryl and Supernatural Survival Tea. I tried the sample tins, and reordered the bulk bags.
There is also an option to mix and create your own blend, which I have yet to try; it is definitely on my to-do list.
In recent days, I’ve been enjoying a morning cup of tea, and I hope to continue with my fandom favorites.
Fandom Sample from Adagio Teas. Represented are Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, Doctor Who, Supernatural, and The Avengers: Civil War. (c)2021The Walking Dead Daryl sample tin with my tea strainer and favorite cup. (c)2021
Supernatural ended a week ago, and I am still not over it. I have many thoughts about the finale, both positive and negative, and I am still not ready to confront them.
In lieu of my opinions and emotional upheaval, I decided to share a few links of things that posted in the days leading up to the last episode.
A large part of the Supernatural story is what it takes to be a hunter. It isn’t just killing monsters, eating cheeseburgers, and drinking beer although that seems to be a large part of it.
There’s research to be done, weapons and tools to be made, and a set of skills to learn, both in the “downtime” and on the job.
Here is my list of fifteen skills/Hunter’s Lore that Sam and Dean have picked up along the way, beginning with one of the most important ones –
Hunter’s Journal, where the hunters keep their notes and references as well as contacts with other hunters, etc. Over the years as technology advanced, many of the functions of the Hunter’s Journal were supplemented by library research, laptop and/or tablet and online search engines. As Sam would say, “So, get this…”
Anti-possession Symbol – as a charm to wear or a tattoo as the Winchesters have.
Salt. Salt lines, salt circles. Keeps the ghosts at bay.
Salt and burn the bones. Kills the ghosts and vengeful spirits.
Iron. Gets rid of the ghosts.
Lock picks and lock picking tools.
Devil’s Trap
Silver knives, letter openers. These can be used on shifters and werewolves.
Head shots are used for vampires, ghouls, and others.
Exorcizamus Te – the Demon expelling spell
The Colt – kills nearly everything (unfortunately, not Lucifer)
Here is a partial list of some of the jobs that Sam and Dean had, actually, pretended to have. I’ve combined similar careers, and kept the list to twenty. Did I forget any?
Actors, Talent Agents, Talent Scouts
Animal Control, Pest Control
Art Dealers
Author, Blogger, Journalist, Reporters
Bartender
CDC Agents
Coach, Janitor, Research Assistant, Students
Doctors, Medical Students, Orderly
Electrician, Maintenance Technicians
FBI
Fire Fighters
Game Wardens, Park Rangers, US Wildlife Service
Grief Counselors, Priests
Historic Preservation Society
Insurance Investigators
Law Enforcement, Police, Sheriffs, Deputies, SWAT, US Marshalls, Code Enforcement
Griffins and Ginger Snaps 