FNL

There is this thing about me that you probably know if you know me.

I have a teensy, tiny, bit of an obsessive personality when it comes to television shows.

Just the good ones. Promise. (we'll forget about my love of "The Nanny", "One Tree Hill", and "Dharma and Greg" momentarily).

I just can't help it.

I become obsessed with the characters, the relationships, the failures. I judge them like they are real people. I get crushes on them like they are real people. I loathe them like they are real people.

And when they are over, I mourn them like real people.

Can't help it. I can't. I get fixed on a show and just watch it obsessively. I prefer to watch them after they have gone off the air so I don't have to deal with hiatuses or summer breaks or waiting a full week to find out what happens next.

My latest obsession is Friday Night Lights. Everyone always told me. They always said, "watch it. it's going to change your life." So about two weeks ago, I started watching it.

I just finished it. Yes. I watched an entire 5-season show in two weeks.

You may wonder if I have a job. I actually do. And I work 9-5 but my television viewing skills are unmatched. If there was an Olympic Sport in viewing television shows, I would receive a gold medal for the U.S. of A.

I am completely in love with FNL (note how I now use the fan lingo). Saracen, QB1. Oh my. Be still my heart. When his father died, I wept on my couch for an hour. When Julie broke his heart, I hated her for the entire next season. And then there is Riggins. You can't even imagine. I never thought I'd like an alcoholic who wore cut-off shirts until Riggins. I was mistaken. And Coach. Those tortured eyes. That good heart...

I could go on. But I won't. I will spare you and attempt to keep any remaining dignity intact.

I finished this show and as always, I now have a void in my life. In an attempt to fill this void, I try and bring up the show casually in conversations. Like so:

Me: "Happy Friday!"
Unsuspecting Coworker: "Happy Friday to you, too!"
Me: "Do you know what I always think of on Fridays?"
Unsuspecting Coworker: "What?"
Me: "That show Friday Night Lights..." (then I look at them hopefully. If they gasp and say, "me too!" We launch into a 45 minute conversation about our favorite story lines, the hottest men, and how awesome Connie Britton is as Tami Taylor. If they stare at me blankly, I mumble, "My blood sugar is low. It's been a long week. I need a cocktail. I found out my identity was stolen. I ate bad sushi last night. Do you ever contemplate the Native Americans and just get really sad? What is your favorite color? How do you think you'll die? I don't think all dogs go to heaven--some of them are real bitches.)

Anything to detract from the obsessive moron that I am.

I sometimes wonder if I'll ever get over this obsession of mine. If I'll ever be one of those people who is like, "eh, I'll watch that show if it's on," instead of being the girl who drinks champagne when t.v. couples get married or wept when Felicity cut her hair or still sort of believes that one of these days, Dr. Carter will see her and he will fall madly in love with her and pick up right where they left off when she was 17, having wild fantasies about him. (Sorry fiance. You never get over your first love.)

Probably. I'll probably always be that girl.