Becoming A Twilight Guy: One Year Later

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a year since I was first introduced to Bella Swan, Jacob Black, Edward, and the rest of the Cullens. Had you asked me a year ago if I would be writing for a site that revolved around a novel about the forbidden love between a sparkly vampire and a teenage girl I probably would have laughed at you. But yet here I am, about to embark on the tale of how I became a Twi-guy.

Earlier this month Kristina celebrated her 1 year anniversary of Twilight addiction. She, much like me, was skeptical of the Twilight books when she was first introduced to them. Sadly, her submission to reading the series would only amplify Audrey’s efforts to get me to read the series as well. However, getting me to that point took a significant effort from both of my website cohorts.

Once Kristina began reading the series, Edward Cullen became the most talked about person in the office. Every morning I would hear her latest rants and raves about the series and she and Audrey would drone on and on about how amazing Edward Cullen was, and how dreamy Edward Cullen was. As a guy, there was only so much I could take. The two would talk about the man as though he were God’s gift to women, as though he were real. Meanwhile their efforts to get me to read the series began. Finally I put my foot down and started taunting them anytime something went wrong by saying, “I blame Edward”. The taunting was fun because it would get a rise out of one or both of them and would usually result in at least a little bit of silence on the Edward Cullen front.

However, I finally decided that taunting them by saying “I blame Edward” simply wasn’t enough so I upped the ante a little and made the infamous “I blame Edward” t-shirt. Using my Photoshop skills and some iron on transfers I created the masterpiece below and showed up to work armed with my new Twilight inspired apparel.

"I blame Edward...For making men seem like lesser beings by saying things like, You're exactly my brand of heroin""

The shirt got more praise than it did cries, which I believe to be one of the biggest turning points in the whole thing. I was left to wonder what other sort of masterpieces I could make of this series. A short time later I would finally cave to the pressure of Audrey and Kristina, while cornered in Audrey’s office with Audrey on one side sporting an irresistible frown (It’s like kryptonite, seriously) and Kristina on the other planting Twilight in my hand.

I would go on to read all 4 books back to back. As I finished each book Audrey would lend me the next until I completed the series. Each night after my kids were tucked away in bed I would pour myself a glass of wine, curl up on the couch, and read as much of the books as I could before I had to go to bed. Some nights I even fell asleep while reading the books and would have to force myself to put the book down and go to bed.

I quickly fell in love with the characters and their stories. As a guy with a soft side I adored the love story between Edward and Bella and wished I could feel some of the deep connections the two shared with someone I love. I wished I could be the selfless man that Edward was in my own relationships. In his actions Bella always came first, regardless of what he felt he put her feelings, desires, above his own.

I was sympathetic for Jacob, being a guy who has been the “best friend” who wasn’t quite enough to be “the one”. I also related a lot to Jacob’s stubbornness when it came to his love for Bella. Always struggling with finding that balance and to love her like he should, and constantly slipping up and being too overbearing. Though he always had good intentions, he often acted without Bella’s feelings in mind, focusing more on the fact that he felt they should be more than friends than on what Bella really wanted.

However, my love for the characters wasn’t the only thing that gave me the drive to keep reading. Shortly into reading the series Audrey started tucking post it notes into the books sharing some of her favorite quotes or moments. And on every page turn I was left to wonder if I might find a little piece of her on the next page. This added an exciting element to the books that continued throughout the series and would always spark an intriguing conversation the following day.

If that weren’t enough I began creating soundtrack’s for each book as I read them. These, along with Audrey’s kryptonite lip, were two of the main factors that originally got me to read the series. Since music is my passion, the idea of creating a soundtrack for each book intrigued me, and as I completed a book I would create my own Twilight soundtracks.

Since this craze started I have attended the midnight showing of the Twilight movie with a custom self-designed CafePress “Sick Masochistic Lion” t-shirt. I have spent an entire day devoted to the viewing of the Twilight DVD. I have trekked through cemeteries and Griffith Park with a six foot tall cardboard cutout of Edward Cullen. And I have bonded with two really amazing friends while creating the site you are on today.

I love these stories, I love these characters, and I love the fans. I get that it’s probably a bit unorthodox for a guy to not only love a series of novels like this, but love vampires that don’t fit into the traditional mold. I’ve been called a woman, I’ve been called gay, I’ve been called a number of things, but I’m proud to call myself a Twi-guy. Hell, I’ll even sport my Twilight “I don’t want to be a monster” jacket if it’s cold enough. Here’s looking to the years ahead which I hope to be filled with tons of great stories, memories, and new friends.