Sunday, May 18, 2008

Celebrity Status

I believe I may have somehow crossed the line from regular gal to celebrity. No, I haven't become a reality TV star and I haven't suddenly lost 30 pounds, purchased a minature dog and made a sex tape with Dave that "accidentally" hit the internet. But I did just find out that I have a fan club. And I'm pretty sure that to have a fan club, you have to have fans. And well, if you have fans, doesn't that usually mean you're known for something? Like well known? Like a celebrity. The Merrium-Webster's definition of celebrity is "the state of being celebrated" or "a famous or celebrated" person. The definition of fan is "an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator" and "an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit"). I believe I have made my case.

So what about this fan club, you're wondering? How did I get a fan club? And what does this fan club do? Well, for those of you who are familiar with Facebook, a group has been created in my honour (well really, in honour of my blog) on Facebook. It is the "Angela Simpson Blog Fan Club". Facebook users can join this all important group and chat about me and my blog. For those of you who are not familiar with Facebook, well, ask your child, grandchild, or the kid who lives next door to explain it. Anyways, my friend (and apparent ardent fan!) Lisa Riley and Dave put this together way back in March. I just discovered it today. I know... you can't believe it's taken me this long. How could I, seeker of praise, recognition, and general ego boosting of all types, not know she has a fan club?

Well, today, after having a huge fight with the machine that loads money onto my laundry card (enabling me to use the machines and thus dry the wet laundry that I had) and losing to said machine; and then being told by the service people that they might be able to get to fixing it on Tuesday (um, hello!!! I have a couple loads of wet laundry here and other clothing I'd like to wash before then!) I was feeling bitter, edgy and really like I could just lose it. Okay, not the end of the world, but for whatever reason, it got me all agitated. I was sitting at my computer, trying to cut my 1,100 word essay into 400 - 500 words, but really just feeling agitated and like lighting up a smoke, when, Dave pulled this pick me up out of his hat. Bless Dave. For managing to ignore my disproportiate rage at the laundry machine thing and for finding a way to cheer me up.

He directed me to his Facebook page, and then to his groups, where I saw it - the "Angela Simpson Blog Fan Club". I clicked on it, and there it was! There were some pictures of me. The link to my blog (obviously!!). Some comments about the fact that I was oblivious to the group's existance. And 24 members! Some of these people I don't even know! I was, of course, reduced to tears at this fact. And that Lisa and Dave had taken the time to create the group. And that anyone would really care that much about what I write on my blog. Especially people I don't even know. It certainly lifted my spirits and makes me feel incredibly special.

Which leads me back to my celebrity status. After shedding tears and being reduced to mush inside, I bounced back with an inflating head and the realization that having a fan club certainly made me special and really, probably was grounds for celebrity status (refer back to definitions of celebrity and fan noted above). Not to worry though, I will not forget where I have come from or the people I have met along the way, I will try to answer every piece of fan mail (I should expect fan mail, yes?), and if I ever write that book everyone in my fan club will get a free signed copy.

Now, I've got to go practice thinking like a celebrity! I wonder if I should have Dave make up t-shirts or something? Hmmm....

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