Sep 20, 2012 |
FLASHPOINT Season Five premieres tonight. In Canada.
Not here in the U.S. Not until mid-October for us.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that there are few things better than FLASHPOINT. Starbucks. Cooking. Writing. Family. And God. That about sums me up.
I’ve been trying all day to come with a grabbing post, something to really draw you in and win me the Nobel Prize. And I have many topics in my head.
But all I can get my head around is how lucky Canada is.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Hello/Goodbye: How Flashpoint Keeps Hitting the Mark
Do You Know FPTO?
The Long Goodbye: Flashpoint to End After Season Five
The Long Goodbye: What FLASHPOINT Means to Me
Jun 26, 2012 |
Yep. Reality is sinking in… this is the last week of full cast shooting for the greatest drama on television. We’ve yet to even start viewing Season Five, but that is just a small offset of the somber mood we’re in over at FPTOne and Twitter.
And I’m not even officially associated with the show.
I’m just a fan. Who’s made friends with many other fans.
That’s part of the attraction of Flashpoint: the draw into a community where people really relate to each other. Really talk with each other. Really celebrate the wins. And really share the pain of a path we’d rather not be on.
I’ve kept my distance from the FPTO wall on facebook and twitter. Partly because life keeps me busy. Partly because it’s not my favorite moment. I’m having a hard time letting it sink in that the show is really over.
No more awesome pic tweets that Kate will share from Ted and Sergio and Rico and everyone else. Angelo’s artwork will be “in remembrance of…”
I’m thankful for the friendships forged with Kate, Mary, Angelo, Mary Catherine, Beth, and so many others. That we not only “meet” up on the public facebook page, but we’ve grown into honest, sharing, caring friends. Sure, I’ve yet to meet them in person. But they’re real. And they treat me like I matter. That’s the beauty of Flashpoint and all who get involved: from the cast to the crew to the fans. We all matter.
Thankfully the Facebook Page Producers have promised to stick around through the airing of Season Five. That’s good. So many of us look forward to continuing that camaraderie.
If it weren’t for the friends I’ve made through Flashpoint, I’d still be… well, I’d still be me, but a lesser version.
But I don’t want this post to be about me. I’ve written enough about Flashpoint in the past, and I will continue to do so.
This post is dedicated to Flashpoint Final Days, and I invite you to leave your comments about the show, the community, and the ending of this ground-breaking drama here.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
May 6, 2012 |
It’s not really Sunday for me. But it is for you. I’m writing this now because I’m still (will be still) on Retreat.
I’m watching FLASHPOINT episodes on my DVR. It’s so bittersweet. I can directly relate so much of my life before-and-after FLASHPOINT. Before, I wanted to write. I watched TV. I didn’t really talk to strangers online. After, I am a writer. I am committed to my writing. And I’ve made so many friends through FPTO. People I’ve never actually met, but who are nicer to me than some real people I know/knew.
I deleted some friends from my life last week: facebook, twitter, email, and in general. It was an awkward moment when I saw one in public and she asked why. It’s not that I am antisocial again. It’s that I carefully choose who I associate with.
I started actually writing material again. Short stories. So in a month, or hopefully even less, I can start submitting to magazines and contests and see where that takes me.
I’m looking forward to Women’s Retreat. Which, by the time you read this, is where I’ll be.
Next Wednesday, my blog’s “What’s the Word? Wednesday” theme will be all about Mom’s. I’m excited for that, and I really hope to get a great number of links to read Mom Stories from everyone.
Well, now I have to finish cleaning the house and packing for retreat and then I’m off to watch Dot in her high school play. She graduates in four weeks so it’s a whirlwind around here coordinating parties and Grad Nite and events and finals and dentists and visits and everything else… but it’s a good whirlwind.
I love my Daughter. She’s always amazing me. She’s so awesome. Sometimes I take a step back and see her as more of a person than just my daughter, and I’m taken by surprise. If she wasn’t my daughter, I’d want her to be. I really would.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
May 4, 2012 |
It’s been two days since FLASHPOINT announced the end of production after Season 5. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions, tears, and even some fun among the Family.
Knowing what it means to me, I’ve received some nice check-in’s from those who are worried about my reactions. Can you blame them?
It’s hard to fathom the slow death of our beloved show. Hard to come to terms with the end of something so wonderful, so groundbreaking and so endearing.
It’s been two days since the announcement, and we’re all still in a state of shock. And not sure what to do when we start letting ourselves feel the reality of it.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
May 2, 2012 |
Last night I posted The Long Goodbye: Flashpoint to End After Season Five. I spent the majority of the evening online via Facebook and twitter. I spent the majority of the day coming to terms with the news.
To those who say, “It’s just a television show,” I say this: You’ve obviously never really watched it. Not really. Because if you had, if you had joined us on Facebook or twitter, you would know.
It’s not just a show. It’s not just an online community. It’s a family.
It’s a part of my family. And I’m a part of them.
FLASHPOINT has been so much to me. I’ve never missed an episode. Never. Through the FLASHPOINT Team One Facebook community, I’ve found more of myself than I knew I had. I’ve made friends who have encouraged me to break out of my shell and get over my fear of the unknown.
If you search “Flashpoint” on my blog, there’s a plethora of posts ranging from casual mentions to in-depth articles.
The FPTO community has supported me as I pursue my dreams of writing, commenting on my blog and sharing my posts when it caught their attentions.
I’ll not forget Angelo’s comments last summer when I said I had to write. A few well-meaning commentators suggested I look for a “real” job. Angelo wrote,
“You don’t write because you want recognition. You don’t write because it seems like fun. You don’t write because you want to.
You write because you have to.
If that’s what Molly Jo feels then that’s what Molly Jo should do. In fact, based on her comments, I doubt she could prevent herself.“
Little did he know I’d save this comment and it would (and still does!) continue to inspire me during moments of self-doubt.
I have an autographed poster that now means more than ever. An SRU ornament from Kate. An abundance of saved comments and emails and tweets from so many.
FLASHPOINT is more than a show that takes my breath away. It’s been the promise of success. As a fan, a word from a producer or writer is amazing. As a writer, it’s currency.
Best. Email. Evvver.
Mary, affectionately known as Sarge, has always been my Go-To Gal for, well, just about anything. She really knows how to Keep The Peace when it’s needed (which, thankfully, isn’t that often!).
I want to be a writer. And FLASHPOINT has been with me through my attempts and trials. The show has inspired me. The community has supported me. I know they’re separate issues, but somehow, it doesn’t seem like it. It seems like, as long as there’s FLASHPOINT in the world, everything’s okay.
How many of us at FPTO have had actual dreams of Team One rescuing us from bank robbers or traffic accidents? How many of us have secret code words with each other because of ridiculously silly conversations? How will Kate and I ever think of TOAST the same way again? [Yes, that’s a code word, no I won’t share the meaning, but no, it’s nothing bad. Just inspirational. And yummy.]
I really thought if I tried hard enough, if I proved myself with my writing, I could draft a Spec Script for FLASHPOINT producers to look at, maybe even end up writing an episode or two for them.
I’ve talked about moving to Toronto and I’ve been serious about it! If you don’t know me too well, you don’t know how big a deal that is: I don’t like change! To think of moving to another country just to be a writer for a TV show… well, if they’d had me, I would have. No questions asked.
I get that the community will still be there. I’ll still buy jewelry from Kate’s online store. I’ll still tweet with Angelo, Kelley, and everyone else. I’ll follow the producers and writers however I can online. I’ll watch whatever shows the actors do next.
But it won’t be the same. We won’t all be together again like this, not ever.
And that makes me sad. And it makes me cry.
So you know what? If that makes me silly in your eyes, I don’t care. Because it’s late. Because I’m tired. And because I’ve been dealing with this family break-up for quite a few hours now.
And FPTO’s usually the Team that makes it all better. For all of us. But now Mom and Dad are retiring and moving elsewhere. And us kids gotta grow up and fend for ourselves.
That’s just a little scary.
But we can do it. Because even from a distance… we’re still family.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
[FPTO photo courtesy of Angelo at FPTO on Facebook.]
For other posts on FLASHPOINT, read
Hello/Goodbye: How Flashpoint Keeps Hitting the Mark [August 5, 2011]
Do You Know FPTO? [November 6, 2011]
The Long Goodbye: Flashpoint to End After Season Five [May 1, 2012]
