The Stage of Reflecting

[addictdesu]

We've seen a lot 'stages of fangirling' memes, charts, and posts on the internet. Me, who always attempts (and enjoys!) turning existing ideas into my own version, never did one, because this is one aspect of fangirling I'm not very certain about. It's like evolution--you will never know what's next except if you're the next. In general we are better in exploring backwards that's why it's easier to be a historian than an inventor.

Fangirling has its Jurassic Period, Ice Age, Dawn of Man, Dark Ages, Contemporary, blah blah blah counterparts.

And I love history. I may never have made a ‘stages of fangirling’ post, but I always love to backtrack. NEWS did the Myojo 10,000-character interview twice; the first was in 2011, the latter was last year. Chankapaana means "my beloved" and it's our name since 2012. I remember one day in March five years ago when I first cried hard because of Tegoshi (for you know, langit ka lupa ako reasons ><"), to the first time I pulled an all-nighter for NEWS; the first time I played a NEWS song on the piano on impromptu (improvising chord progressions lol); and definitely, the very day I became a fangirl. Good thing I had just started writing a serious diary back then. Everything was recorded and it was hilarious. I cannot believe I fell for a Japanese! Not being racist--I just didn't appreciate Japan, it was the country I had the least interest in. I even wanted to go to Africa first!

When I entered the fandom, it was a totally warm and welcoming world that I felt I was going to last. In fact, I have a long-time envy of long-time fans... there's this want to reach what they've reached. Most fans I know were ahead by 3 or 4 years while I was a newbie. During my 3rd year, which means the older fans passed the 6th and 7th year mark, the want turned into an aim. I aimed to reach the 6th, 7th years. I dunno what will happen next, or if NEWS would still exist, but that was my conscious decision: to be a long-time fan.

Working towards this aim I actually felt very natural. Even there was only a single release in 2014, that year was one of my active years. 2015 was a NEWSfest and I forgot about my internal timetable. Stages of fangirling what? Where am I? Where should I be?? Nah, everyone's enjoying the heap of activities and so do I!

NEWS appears to be unstoppable. I, meanwhile, am beating the 6th-year mark in June--three months from now. Taking a little time (thus writing this entry) to reflect, it’s meaningful and relieving, because in a way it has become a life goal and I've reached it faster and easier than I imagined. My dream of celebrating my longevity--a dream almost as intense as seeing Tegoshi in person, is just on the horizon. ♥

This sentiment will probably make the older fans, the 3 or 4 years ahead of me fans, laugh at how silly I am with this 6th year thing whereas they’re in their 9th or 10th year now! Or better yet, they can relate. I've never known a fan who isn't sentimental and counts the years of stay in the fandom like celebrating wedding anniversaries.

Maybe I'm not concerned with the stages of fangirling, because I find eras more appealing, as I've lept the stages in time, and all I could ever think now is how far could this go (I've always thought of that, apparently). Another aim: 10 years? Nah, everyone's enjoying the heap of activities and so do I! But seriously. Betting on 10 years, I'm getting unnecessarily anxious.

Whenever I'm feeling unnecessarily anxious I just think of Tegoshi's cheeks that are like dough. I don't necessarily know why too. (gif: koyamacchi)

Below is the most famous 'stages of fangirling' meme, or the most accurate among the ones I researched for the sake of this post. :> Okay, though I'm not very attentive, it doesn't mean I deny the truth that's in these memes. It happens to me and it happens to everyone else; within these long eras and years of being in a fandom these stages repeat themselves over and over again. Sigh. This is why I stayed.

Comments

[meli-29.livejournal.com]

Did you want to go to Africa?
You're the second person I've ever met that wants to go there. May I ask why?

Those memes are xDDD
I feel very identified with the latter, but now I'm in the fourth or fifth stage. Those which people do not talk of because they're not as amusing as the first haha. When your life continues, you still love them, and you're sure they will always be an important part of your life. And your sweetie and family know it. Yep.
I'm still plotting to travel to Japan, eh!

ps. Love you gif xD

[leitoph.livejournal.com]

For the simple reason I dream of going to exotic places!! And I'm bad with cold weather while very tolerant of heat so Africa is not hassle for me! (if we talk about climate) xD I also have an affinity for soil/dust/dirt etc., can't explain it, I just crave the feel of the ground.

Besides, I'm eyeing Egypt since I was young. I loved the Pharoah stories and have researched about the history of the country many times.

Lastly, I want to go to the poorest parts of the continent, for humanitarian reasons.

--

Oh, that stage. Dunno what stage I am, maybe it's still the first! hahaha. Actually, I'm glad to have talked to you even though you're not a 'fangirly' fan anymore, if you get what I mean ^_^

P.S. I read your entries, I've even went thru your archives and read the old posts. I just don't comment when I dunno what to comment. Some time, I would. Anyway, thanks for commenting on mine! :)