Day Eight: Shared Obsessions

All of us have at least ONE thing that we are totally obsessed with. Whether it's a piece of technology, a type of food, a certain scent, a person (careful not to be creepy...just sayin'), or some kind of entertainment. Whatever it is, we all know we have it. Probably more than one.
I don't really hide my obsessions. In fact, most of the time it's just plain obvious. Like facebook. I can't pretend I'm not obsessed, because the fact I'm always on proves me wrong. I don't hide that I'm obsessed with flip flops either. One look in my closet, and all bets are off. I also consistently watch specific TV shows. I own every season of Friends on DVD and can kick Trista Boling's butt at trivia (hee!), my wonderful older cousin got me hooked on Grey's Anatomy....so not only am I planning Thursday evenings around it's showing, but I'm also watching Hulu and catching all the seasons. Backwards (don't ask).

But last night, I realized another wonderful thing in my life: a shared, family obsession with Law and Order SVU. Strange, I know. It's a heavy show...often with content in it that can be rather upsetting and triggering. But, none the less, every Wednesday night (at 10/9c), I tune in to NBC and pull out the phone for an hour of intense drama and lots of texting. Why? Because ALL MY FAMILY is sitting, watching the same show...and we are all in constant communication about what is going on. Some of you are probably rolling your eyes and thinking, okay kid, get a life (I have one by the way...problem solved). But, I love it. My family lives all over the US. We see each other, maybe, twice a year. But one night each week we are all in communication and bonding over something that takes us out of our daily lives...and into a realm of non-reality.
It's always a good feeling when you are not the only one that is "obsessed" or "caught up" in something, isn't it? Almost like a validation, telling you that it's okay to really like something. It's okay to want to leave reality for an hour each night...and slip into another place (even if it's dark). It's okay if you update facebook a lot, because people actually get worried when you do not. And it's okay to admit these things, because chances are, you are not alone.
So. Today, I am grateful for shared obsessions. Because we all have them.