I guess it was about one year ago, about this time, when I learned who my friends really were.
Down on my luck from a bout of depression, I had very few, but very valuable, friendships, both on and offline. But it was the ones online that really helped me out. One in particular helped me look at life in a more positive, Jhonen-y style, if such a thing is possible as making a positive point Jhonen style.
I have never seen this friend, but it mattered none, for she was the most beautiful creature. Kind and eager to help out a friend in need, her unique sense of humour gave me the lift needed for a 15-year-old to survive. And that, combined with the upcoming Christmas season (my absolute favourite time of the year), was enough to get me going. My friend and I could happily celebrate the season together.
Then I learned about one little detail.
She was Jewish.
And not that it bothered me in the least, mind you, but it put a change on what I had planned for seasonal fun. So one afternoon I comtemplated to myself what the best gift would be for my Jewish Zim-loving internet friend who lived almost 900 miles away. I wanted to know what I could do.
By the end of the day, I had decided to take one of my better skills -writing- and turn it into something practical. When 9 PM had rolled around that evening, I had planned out a fic to course 9 days, a story of what might happen should the world's most luvable Irken discover the concept of Hanukkah. It was the first --and to my knowledge, ONLY-- Hanukkah-related story in the Invader ZIM fandom. I titled it, quite simply, "Happy Hanukkah Zim" (http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=490270) and dedicated it to none other than my good friend, the one and only CryingChild.
The fic itself, being a simple token of appreciation for a fan, grew to overwhelming success even I did not expect, earning, as of right now, a total of 95 reviews. (That comes in second only to "Happy Birthday Zim" with 103 reviews, which yes, I am still working on. Don't hurt me! *hides*)
But getting back on tangent, the story went over very well, and while I am writing a 'sequel' to it partly for recognition of daring to do something different, the real reason for this fic existing -this AND its prequel- is the friendship of me and CryingChild (or CC, as I have rather affectionately dubbed her) and MiracleChick, another Jewish friend/fan who supplied me with some important information I couldn't get anywhere else. I haven't seen her around in a while, so if you're reading this, MiracleChick, I'm sorry I never answered your e-mail, and I hope your college experience is going well. :)
When I put 'sequel' in quotes, I mean that it's not a direct sequel. Yes, it takes place one year after "Happy Hanukkah Zim", and Zim and Gir are much into the holiday. But this year, we're taking a different standpoint, and walking into the Membrane household to see what lurks there during this typically happy time.
The overall point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to be Jewish to appreciate all that the Hanukkah season has to offer. I mean, I'm Christian, and I'm the authour for goodness sakes! As Zim and Gir learned, all you need is a friend.
And as Dib is about to discover, sometimes it takes a fond memory of a lost loved one to truly realize what you have... and that nothing should EVER be taken for granted.
But enough of MY babble; on with the fic! Let's start with a little teaser to the first chapter:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At the end of a circular street, inside a small odd-shaped house, an even more oddly-coloured green puppy sat inside, watching the clock intently. At precisely 2:38, he darted outside through the mail slot and made his way across town to a large brick building.
It was that time of year again.
Down on my luck from a bout of depression, I had very few, but very valuable, friendships, both on and offline. But it was the ones online that really helped me out. One in particular helped me look at life in a more positive, Jhonen-y style, if such a thing is possible as making a positive point Jhonen style.
I have never seen this friend, but it mattered none, for she was the most beautiful creature. Kind and eager to help out a friend in need, her unique sense of humour gave me the lift needed for a 15-year-old to survive. And that, combined with the upcoming Christmas season (my absolute favourite time of the year), was enough to get me going. My friend and I could happily celebrate the season together.
Then I learned about one little detail.
She was Jewish.
And not that it bothered me in the least, mind you, but it put a change on what I had planned for seasonal fun. So one afternoon I comtemplated to myself what the best gift would be for my Jewish Zim-loving internet friend who lived almost 900 miles away. I wanted to know what I could do.
By the end of the day, I had decided to take one of my better skills -writing- and turn it into something practical. When 9 PM had rolled around that evening, I had planned out a fic to course 9 days, a story of what might happen should the world's most luvable Irken discover the concept of Hanukkah. It was the first --and to my knowledge, ONLY-- Hanukkah-related story in the Invader ZIM fandom. I titled it, quite simply, "Happy Hanukkah Zim" (http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=490270) and dedicated it to none other than my good friend, the one and only CryingChild.
The fic itself, being a simple token of appreciation for a fan, grew to overwhelming success even I did not expect, earning, as of right now, a total of 95 reviews. (That comes in second only to "Happy Birthday Zim" with 103 reviews, which yes, I am still working on. Don't hurt me! *hides*)
But getting back on tangent, the story went over very well, and while I am writing a 'sequel' to it partly for recognition of daring to do something different, the real reason for this fic existing -this AND its prequel- is the friendship of me and CryingChild (or CC, as I have rather affectionately dubbed her) and MiracleChick, another Jewish friend/fan who supplied me with some important information I couldn't get anywhere else. I haven't seen her around in a while, so if you're reading this, MiracleChick, I'm sorry I never answered your e-mail, and I hope your college experience is going well. :)
When I put 'sequel' in quotes, I mean that it's not a direct sequel. Yes, it takes place one year after "Happy Hanukkah Zim", and Zim and Gir are much into the holiday. But this year, we're taking a different standpoint, and walking into the Membrane household to see what lurks there during this typically happy time.
The overall point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to be Jewish to appreciate all that the Hanukkah season has to offer. I mean, I'm Christian, and I'm the authour for goodness sakes! As Zim and Gir learned, all you need is a friend.
And as Dib is about to discover, sometimes it takes a fond memory of a lost loved one to truly realize what you have... and that nothing should EVER be taken for granted.
But enough of MY babble; on with the fic! Let's start with a little teaser to the first chapter:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At the end of a circular street, inside a small odd-shaped house, an even more oddly-coloured green puppy sat inside, watching the clock intently. At precisely 2:38, he darted outside through the mail slot and made his way across town to a large brick building.
It was that time of year again.