Evolution in action

Fangirl (Urban Dictionary definition)

A rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor. Similar to the breed of fanboy. Fangirls congregate at anime conventions and livejournal. Have been known to glomp, grope, and tackle when encountering said obsessions.

 --to glomp (Urban Dictionary definition)

It is the action of one person lovingly (and dramatically) attacking another with a hug. A glomp is often predatory and lies somewhere in the grey area between a caring embrace, and a flying leap to tackle someone. 

Given my past blog posts, it is fair to say, I am quite fond of such creatures. The definition from above is informative enough, but it excludes many ingredients that constitute a fangirl. One of their qualities will ensure their survival in years to come. Let me tell you why...

Today (October the seventh of the year two thousand fourteen) the fifth book to The Heroes of Olympus series was released. That is major news... if you are or ever were a middle school bookworm. Forget that I began reading the preceding Percy Jackson series as a graduate student (well beyond my middle school years). The love of fiction, especially that of young adult material, was never abandoned. Rather it was increased during those intense years because it contrasted so starkly with the scientific literature that consumed my life. It was a lifeline for my sanity.

Because of my great love of literature, which began at a young age, I knew the tricks that came with book releases.* It comes down to three basic rules: arrive early, be patient, and be aware of the layout of the store. Simple enough? Well, I did not adhere to my wisdom today. In the past, The Heroes of Olympus books were always plentifully stocked on the Target shelves. I figured I would buy the book after work. (I'm shaking my head AND rolling my eyes too!) As I stood in front of the empty shelf merrily talking to my sister on the phone, dismay at my idiocy began to set in. I started to walk in circles, dramatically exclaiming the predicament to my sister. She didn't believe me, which is probably why I became more animated in my explanation that I would have to go all over Los Angeles. As I turned to leave my well-trodden 3x3 square, my large eyes noticed a bulky-ish book hidden behind some boring paperback adult novels. I strode over to correct the mismatch when to my surprise, I pulled this out:

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan. This book has been on my calendar for a year.

I became as happy as Gollum when he reclaimed his precious from Frodo. As I told my sister the miraculous happenings, I noticed a middle-aged woman staring at the book that I waved around in victory. She had also walked by the empty shelf a few seconds after I did, but she showed no signs of a pending panic attack like I had. I then realized she was probably looking for the book for her child. As I whispered my conjecture to my sister, who began to urge me to give it up, I noticed another woman rolling her cart to the empty shelf. She was on the phone and I heard her exclaim, "They are all out. Ha ha ha ha. The book is sold out!" I was giving my sister livefeed of the occasion and she then took it upon herself to become the little angel that stood on my shoulder. She demanded I give it to one of them,  to think of the children, to be a kind person, etc. As you will see in the picture below, I did not give in to her advice. Hopefully, my selfish reasons can be explained. First of all, the happiness at finding that book can be likened to winning the lottery, which will never happen to me. Second, I think this was a more important lesson for the kids to learn. My parents did not buy my books. If I wanted something, I had to earn it for myself (hence, patience). Additionally, those kids who do send their mom or dad on an errand will quickly learn that their parent's time does not revolve around a book release. They will put it on their to-do list in the late afternoon or evening when the shelves have been emptied by zealous bookworms who made it a priority to get their early. So you see, this story is a fine example of evolution in action. My speed (more like timing) from the car to the books was quick. I noticed that the women had visited other areas of the store because their carts were full of stuff. That drive on my end contributed to my fortune. My big eyes gave me the advantage of detecting a small inconsistency in the books. This was critical since it led me to the prize. And lastly, my curiosity (and perhaps a drop of OCD) caused me to check it out, which yielded me the book. Fangirls are quick to act, keenly aware, reasonable, and ruthless. We imbibe the traits of the characters we love.*

The end.***

*A resume of my relationship with books will show when, where, and with whom I was with for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Catching Fire, Mockingbird, Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena, The House of Hades, The Riddle, The Crow, The Singing (Pellinor series), Peter and the Secrets of Rundoon, Peter and the Sword of Mercy, etc... (Blimey, this is less than half the list ...)

**Fangirls are actually quite nice and the most pleasant of human beings. I'm of Slytherin house, which is no excuse, but for the Pot-heads out there, maybe my choice is better understood? My sister is a wonderful example of a lovable fangirl. 

***Karma is real. I kept the book in my basket and left the scene to grab some creamy peanut butter (I depleted my stock yesterday). Will you believe that I COULD NOT FIND IT!?! I looked and looked and my sister just laughed and laughed. So I have the book, but no PB&J sandwich to eat as I read through the night. :(