Goodbye, Farewell and Amen
I've really been having mixed feelings about tonight’s Bones finale. I mean, think about it. For twelve years or so, I've faithfully settled in front of my television to follow the continuing adventures of Booth, Brennan and their team of misfit toys. I've rearranged date nights, drinks with friends, telephone calls and work schedules so that I would not miss an episode. I had a streak of 199 episodes viewed live before my son’s Christmas program blew that out of the water. (Some things just don’t rank below even Bones.) Basically, this show has been a huge part of my life since the day it premiered on September 13, 2005. I've given birth, welcomed a sister-in-law, lost a mother-in-law, lost a teenage cousin and my favorite aunt, quit my job, established one fan board, left that board and started this one, had my heart broken by someone I genuinely loved, made friends with the best group of women I've ever known, and managed to stay married to a pretty tolerant guy that whole time.
It’s safe to say that since Bones came into it, my life has changed in many ways. And so, it’s bittersweet to have to say goodbye to this show and this cast and, in a way, this fandom. Yes, we are going to leave the board up and running and we will continue our re-watch series, but eventually the posts will stop and the visits and views will stop and Bonesology will be nothing more than an archive for our mutual obsession. Don’t get me wrong, it will be a wonderful archive, filled with love and friendship and fights and make-ups and tears and happiness and fun and Bones. Always Bones. But we’ll find new shows to obsess about, new series to talk with friends about and we’ll all move on. (Don’t you hate that phrase? I know I do.)
So, it seems like the only thing left to do is to thank everyone who enabled made this crazy obsession possible, starting with the obvious.
To David, Emily, TJ, Michaela, Tamara, John, Patricia, John, Eric, Ryan and every single squintern imaginable…there is no way I can every truly express how grateful I am for all the hard work, dedication, love, laughter and tears you’ve put into the twelve seasons of my all-time favorite show. I know we’re all sad that Bones is ending, but for me the good memories of fantastic episodes and scenes and characters and single lines and the appreciation for what we’ve been given will always overshadow the sadness at the finish. Always. And this cast is the reason why. So again…thank you. Sincerely.
To Hart Hanson, Stephen Nathan and Kathy Reichs…it’s safe to say that without the three of you, we would not be here ready to say goodbye. Your imagination and faith and genius have carried us through a dozen seasons of the most fun television we’ve ever watched, and I for one am so grateful. Thank you all.
To the admins and moderators here at Bonesology…. including the two who helped me start this place, BrainySmurf and DME82. One, of course, is no longer involved here and the other has drifted away to real life but remains one of my most beloved friends. I will be forever in their debt for their support. Among the various moderators we’ve had over the years (including Skole and Rankor01, who ended up meeting and getting married!), I need to thank all the current group, Frankie707, someone1tookmyname, Angiebc, Stayuff, thevaliumsofa, PolamaluGirl, CarlaM2190, squinttoyou, and Laffers18…you’ve all become real life friends and I feel like I should pat myself on the back for picking you to help run things here. You’re loyal, steadfast, brilliant and just the best kind of people and I am genuinely and completely grateful for everything you’ve done for me and Bonesology. And last but definitely not least, to my co-admin, Rynogeny. I don’t think anyone would argue when I say that you, my verbose friend, are the biggest and best Bones fan there ever was or ever will be. We all stand in awe of your insight and attention to detail and absolute dedication to Bones and all its fans. And on a personal note, there is no possible way Bonesology happens on a daily basis without you and even if you weren’t one of the best people on the planet I would love you for that fact alone. Thank you to every single one of you, from the bottom of my heart. I love you guys.
And finally, thanks to all of you, the fans, our amazing Bonesology members. We didn’t always agree on everything (Ha!) and I know that you all wanted to punch me in the face at one time or another, but you stuck with us and you embraced what we were trying to do here and I just don’t have the words to express what that means to me. You, above everything else, are the reason we started this board and you’re the reason it stayed afloat and honestly? I’ve run out of words to express my feelings for each and every single one of you. Just…thank you. Truly.
For the six years and four months this board has existed, you’ve all allowed me to hang out with you while you’ve laughed, cried, screamed, begged, hoped, prayed, cursed and celebrated the amazing show we’ve all come to love. I am honored to have lived this obsession with you, and I will miss the shared excitement of new seasons, episodes and story lines but most of all, I will miss all of you. Thank you for letting me be your Head Bitch in Charge. It’s been my privilege.
~NatesMama 3/28/2017
