I wrote this essay today and I know you guys will understand this more than anyone else.

It is not just a show. It never has been "just a show" for me. For the average individual it may be a simple source of entertainment, enjoyed over cheap snacks and discussion. For me, it is far from just a source of entertainment, it is a welcome and treasured part of my life and who I am.

Grey's Anatomy is a hip, thoroughly enjoyable television experience. It's witty, intriguing, and maybe even a bit soapy at times (though who doesn't love some decent drama?) but it's my show. MY show, it's that one hour every week where everything wrong in my life subsides and I can get away. To me, they are not just fictional characters or actors in costume. They are raw and real (as real as they can be) and I relate to them all. People enjoy looking down upon me because I am so passionate about a television show, but is it truly wrong? Is it wrong for me to enjoy it beyond the norm because it makes me happy or helps me deal? The past two years of my life have been a blur of many unwelcomed life experiences, a broken heart, losing important people in my life, only to name a few! I have been though a great many of these horrid situations and there was always that Thursday night ritual to look forward to.

Each character has their own set of faults, their own mistakes, their own traumas that lead them to learn lessons and navigate through the trials of life. It’s these faults, these mistakes and traumas that make me see them as so much more. the actors connect in such a way with their characters that you'd think you were watching a reality show, it's hard to separate character from actor because they are so in tune in their portrayals. I feel Meredith because of her obvious "Daddy issues", I myself had them until my father passed which left me with a black hole in my heart and it was Grey's Anatomy of all things to help me through the experience. I feel Izzie because she is passionate, and far too often does not hold her tongue. I've lay on the bathroom floor and let the world pass me by too; I've baked because I had no other way to keep myself from freaking out. I feel Callie because she's strong, but so weak at the same time. She's been hurt and she puts her heart on the line, only to have it crushed. She puts up a facade that she’s tough but deep inside she's broken like everyone else. Every character on the show has at least one trait that can be identified to, each one has an air about them that grabs you and you can say "I've been there before". They are not just characters to me, I see them as friends and family, I see them as people I know and love and identify with. In my life, I have people JUST like them, I’ve given my friends nicknames that link with characters on the show because I see these characters and I see my own friends and see striking similarities.

Shonda Rhimes did not just create some stupid television show, and hour wasted on killing brain cells every Thursday night. She created something I can grab on to, something consistent for someone like me who doesn't always have that consistency. Sure, someday it WILL end, but I will never stop watching. It'll be a frequent partner to my DVD player and the characters will live on in my heart and mind. It will be like saying goodbye to close friends and knowing you'll never see them again, and all you've got is the memories. It's observing these characters in their own life changing experiences that help me to get through my own. Its Meredith shutting herself off and me realizing, you can't always run away when things get tough. It's George not telling Callie what he did, because I know now that the truth is painful but in the end, it has to come out, sooner rather than later. It's Burke leaving Cristina, because he didn't want to keep changing her. I learned that you can't force people to be something they are not.

Honestly, it is hard to put into words exactly how much this “simple show” means to me. How do you put into words how something like this makes you feel? Especially when it falls upon deaf, ignorant ears who refuse to understand where you are coming from because they simple cannot (and refuse) to try! For me, at least can be on the phone in the middle of the night with my best friend and telling her “I want more than anything to meet them all and tell them how they’ve affected me” and have her understand me completely. Have her understand that they are a driving force in getting me out of bed in the morning some days.
Grey’s Anatomy is my Prozac, my anti-depressant. Many people pop pills and turn to alternative practices to appease their own issues, so is it really that wrong of me to turn to this show…as long as it’s making me happy? So stop, stop saying it’s “just a show”, stop treating me as if I am juvenile or silly for feeling so strongly about it. It’s my morning cup of tea, my warm bubble bath, my box of chocolate, my comfort.

More than anything, I would love to tell this talented group of people how they have deeply affected me, but for now, I can only dream about it. I still have those Thursday nights (repeats or not) to look forward to.

Every word of that is so true Lexie!!! Its exactly how i feel!
I have tons of personal issues that sometimes i want to get away from or dont know how to deal with and relating to other peoples lives (in the way that only tv shows like Greys enable you to) can really help. It is just like the comfort of a cup of tea!
These are half the reasons i want to act! I want to be a part of something so important and meaning full to people! :)

Thanks for posting it! :wub:

I'm not feeling well right now so I'm not going to read it all (I'll do that tomorrow) but it really means a lot to me too... I don't think I'm the most obsessed person ever, I think you're more obsessed but still

I always relate stuff there to things that happen in real life... what happend to me or others.
saturday we're watching a movie.. and someone said something about something (I just can't remember what) and Maartje and I were thinking about all kind of quotes people in grey's said about it! it was just crazy...

All of this hit home, more so because I know you like nobody else knows you and I love you nobody else could. [yeah I said it] Every word you said is so true and expresses my feelings exactly.

I hate when people say its just a show. Its not just a damn show, its my life line. Its my support system. Most of all its what brought me closer to you, so they need to shut their mouths about it.

yeah if it weren't for Grey's we wouldn't be here right now... I love that letter Lexie! I already read it the first time you posted it. :)

This is a new one you goof, lol

haha oh ok I'll read this one too then :rolleyes:

I understand completely. everybody has something that gets them through the day, how is Grey's any different? and you made me sad thinking about how they are just gonna be memories someday. :(

so um..I LOVE YOU! haha Sara this is all so true..and thank you so much for posting it! like I said before, you can put feelings into words better than anyone I know! :) haha thats very awesome..you're my idol!! :wub:

Thank you guys ;) I knew you would all understand it!

I finally read it! I think you're really great to say with words how you think about something! You need to send this to the cast of grey's, just to show them how great they're (or have you already send something similiar to them?)

That was really sweet. It was really well written and articulated perfectly. I totally know what you mean. I've been going through some really tough times here lately and I use that one hour a week to escape, just like you talked about. A lot of people (my sister included) give me grief about watching "a primetime soap" so religiously, but if they would just give it a try and let it affect them, they would understand why people like us appreciate it the way we do. Thank you for sharing that with us.

Oh wow. I can really relate to you. I have the same thoughts as you but i just dont know how to say it out in words. You're right that they will be gone someday. A part of me would be taken away when it's over. But i know, in my heart, grey's is forever. That flame burns on forever and will never go off.

"They say that good things take time.
But really great things happen in a blink of an eye."