The Road to Eclipse

Let’s go back to 2008, shall we?

About two and a half years ago, I walked into Barnes & Noble at the Mall of Georgia with Drew and Alison. We browsed around for quite some time, eventually separating and going our own way. I went upstairs, not searching for anything in particular. What I came across though was unexpected.

Yes. I was thrust into the world that is Twilight. While the first book had been out around two years at the time, I had heard nothing of it. And actually, I initially picked up the book because I thought the cover was pretty. Go figure. I read the first few pages and that was it. I was sucked in. I looked around and noticed there were two others.

And

And what’s that, a sign announcing the release of the fourth book in the series?

It was late winter. Early spring? I had until August 2nd to finish Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. Puh! I thought, “well this is totally doable!” (note: I was a full time student and working at the time). Little did I know, it was going to be a problem, but not in the sense I had expected. The problem was I flew through the first three books! I ate, breathed, and slept Twilight. I read every second I got. I stayed up into the early hours of the morning to read. And then when I finished, there was the waiting…oh, I was going to have to wait for Breaking Dawn?! Damn, Jamie. Damn.

While I was reading Twilight, I kept telling the bestie, Cassie, that she had to read it. She just had to. That same week I started reading it, her and I were babysitting Reidy Speedy, Josh, and Jesse while their parents were out of town. One night we just had Reid and she had to work at the church nursery so him and I went to my house for dinner. We dropped her off and I said, “Here, take Twilight with you!” Two hours or so later we returned to pick her up. She walked out, got in the car, and turned to me and said, “Can we go to Target so I can buy my own copy?” I laughed so hard. And that began our obsession into Twilight together. That night, after we put Reid to bed, we both laid in bed, engulfed in the world of hunky vampires that Stephenie Meyer had created. We were hooked.

Reidy: "Mom, Cassie and Jamie are reading about vampires!"

I can’t remember if it was the same week or if it was a few weeks later, but we got to talking about the possibility of there ever being a movie made. We went on and on about it and finally Googled it, and what did we find? Production pictures!!

Exhibit A

Exhibit B (they look so young!)

Instantaneous excitement ensued. Hello, Kristen Stewart!! I’m not going to go on and on about her in this post, because if you read this here little blog, you probably know about my obsession already. I’ll spare you. You’re welcome. So now we have not one, but two things to wait for; Breaking Dawn in August 2008 and Twilight in November 2008. Whew, it was tough.

I’m not going to lie to you and say that we didn’t go buy BD at midnight when it came out. Because we did. We actually hadn’t planned on it, but we were awake, so why not? We hopped in the car and made the thirty minute drive to Borders. Luckily by the time we got there, the crowd had died down considerably. We bought our books, drove back home, and went to bed reading.

I read Breaking Dawn really slow. I didn’t want it to end. I knew it was the last, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I read it so slow. I can still remember where I was when I finished it. It’s kind of like the questions, “Where were you when JFK was shot? On September 11th? When Michael Jackson died?” Seriously, where were you when you finished the Twilight saga? Me, I was sitting on the edge of a hotel bed in Indianapolis, IN. We’d driven up for DCI Finals, it was finals night and we were headed to the stadium. I had ten pages left and I couldn’t leave until I finished. I finished. I loved it. And I was immediately upset at the fact that there would be no more.

p.s. Regiment won that night. And we were there. It was beautiful. Here is Will celebrating.

Fast forward to November 21st. I can say with truth that we did not attend a midnight screening of Twilight. Instead, we waited until the next night and caught a showing in Atlantic Station. It was packed. People cheered when the lights went out. I hate when people cheer in movies. Why? People gasped the first time Edward Cullen walked on screen. You know the time. In the cafeteria. And that was the beginning of the end for Robert Pattinson. Bless him. We left loving the way Catherine Hardwick brought the characters from the book to screen. Was it cheesy? Absolutely. But we left loving it. And wanting more. And anticipating the announcement that New Moon was green lit.

Then there was more waiting as New Moon went into production. Almost a year to the day after Twilight’s release, New Moon rolled into theaters on November 20, 2009. This time the excitement got the best of us. We planned a night at the movies (not midnight) followed by a slumber party with games and cupcakes.

Team Edward? (yes, they DO sparkle)

Or Team Jacob (LIES)

I know most (read: the KSIBTU crew) didn’t like New Moon. It’s because of the LIES. I get IT. It is lies. But I liked New Moon. I liked what Chris Weitz did. How he made it his own. I cried. You know I cried the first time I saw it. Bella sitting in the window after Edward left. The camera panning around her. The music. The look on her face. The passing of the months. I was a hot mess. And the reunion. Please. You have to get through New Moon for the reunion. It makes it worth it.

I think this is more times than CC has seen the movie all together! Haha!!

It’s now June 29, 2010. It’s been seven months since New Moon graced us with its presence. In a matter of hours, millions of fans (not me) will flock to the theaters to see the next chapter, Eclipse. Many are already there. Waiting in line or enjoying a screening of Twilight and New Moon. While I’m excited, I don’t have that buzz of anticipation about me like I did with the first two. Maybe it’s because we’re not making a big to-do about it. Maybe I’m starting to realize that soon it’ll all be over. I’m not ready.

My KSIBTU crew is in NYC right now. They’ll be seeing the movie together tonight at midnight. So wish I could be there with them! I hope you ladies are having the best time!

CC sent me this yesterday. Do you see my painting in front of the TV? She brought it with her! So...it's like I AM there!

I’m seeing Eclipse tomorrow night at 10:30 with Cassie and Alison. That’s an almost full 24-hours after most everyone will have seen it. Oh the torture! Then we’ll see it again Thursday night with Brittney and Tiffany. And, I’m sure there will be other times too. You know there will. Did you see my other ticket stubs? Mmk. I’m sure I’ll love it. No matter what. Because KStew is in it. And Kstewisbetterthanu. What's not to love?

When next we speak, I will have seen it. I’m sure you will have too.

Happy Eclipse-ing everyone!

xoxo