Buffy's tenth birthday

It's just come to my attention that Buffy the series is ten years old today, so I couldn't go to bed without posting about that.

I love Buffy. It's changed my life. I've probably watched more hours of Buffy (and Angel) over the last ten years than I watched tv at all in the previous ten years. I've learned a hell of a lot about American culture, language, customs, schooling, laws. I've learned about myths of vampires, witches, the occult, and Wicca. I've drooled over Angel, Xander, Giles, Spike, Wesley and even, on occasion, Riley. I've laughed more than I thought possible. I've been moved beyond words. (Well, almost. It takes a lot to actually make me speechless!) I've thought about things I'd never thought about before, and I've discovered that I'm not alone in the trials I face in life. I've been inspired.

Buffy was my first (and until very recently my only) fandom, and what made me first venture tentatively into the world of online discussion and then, eventually, even more tentatively, fanfiction. Which has changed my world even further. Especially as I discovered that most gen and het stuff didn't do much for me and dived straight into slash. Hell, if you'd told me five years ago that I'd be avidly reading (and starting to write) fiction about two guys having sex - I honestly can't imagine what my reaction would have been!

Anyway, that's getting away from the point :-) This is supposed to be about Buffy. And all I can say about that is that I'm still waiting for something to come along that will mean as much to me and say as much to me as Buffy does. Something as well written, with such great characters and stories.

Though something with more consistent sixth and seventh seasons would be nice :-)