Twenty years ago today, a little show premiered on Showcase. It started out with an hour and a half pilot that received some well-deserved criticism for certain parts of it (ehm), but led the way to the creation of a massive, much loved universe. Twenty years. Three television shows. 17 seasons. 354 episodes. Countless friendships created all around the globe. Welcome to the Stargate universe. I don't remember my life without Stargate. I don't want to imagine my life without Stargate. My parents watched the Stargate film in the movie theatre. They loved it. So when Stargate SG-1 started, of course they sat down to watch it. And being a young girl who needed to be watched over all the time, they sat me down near the telly as they watched. I grew up with SG-1. Some of my earliest memories are of SG-1. Sam has been my first hero. Daniel has been my first telly crush. Stargate kept me going through more than I can explain; kept me alive longer than I can remember. I wouldn't have been here without Stargate. And just as importantly, I wouldn't have known so many amazing people without it. Some of my most treasured memories are those of meeting the actors I've admired my whole life in conventions. I've spent thousands on it, and I'd have kept spending thousands more. Stargate is home. Stargate and I grew up together. We've always been linked. I learned to fight from Jack and Teal'c, from John and Ronon. I learned compassion and caring for others from Daniel and Carson. I was inspired by Sam and Elizabeth, still my greatest heroes. After all this time? Always. Because that's the thing. Even when my life is crazy, even when I fall back down to the familiar arms of depression, even when I feel I know nothing about myself, there's always one constant. Stargate. It doesn't change. It stays there, and it welcomes me back in, anytime. Whether it's a casual rewatch (occasionally with friends, like with @monkeywandsgutter!) or just a need to see something that will make me feel better, it's always there. It's home, in every way there is. Happy birthday, Stargate SG-1. Happy birthday, my dearest franchise. ❤️
