May 19, 2019 – When I was in fifth grade, I wrote short story. It was a class assignment, and I took it really seriously The plot? Something about a girl who, for whatever reason, gets a collie. I illustrated it too. I got a very strong “1”, the then-Canadian grade for an “A”, and a few stars. I don’t think anyone in the class took the assignment as seriously as I did. About then, the teacher started to suggest books to me, J.R.R. Tolkein to be exact.

Stories meant a lot to me then. A few weeks ago when my dad was here he asked me if I still read. When I was a girl, that’s what I did, that and plot and plan to get a horse. And a collie. I got the horse before the collie, so that tells you how much and how hard I campaigned for a dog. It tells you something about the plot of my first story. I told my dad the truth, no, no I don’t read anymore. To get rid of the look he had on his face, I promised him I’d start reading again.

I think I’m out of practice. I spend a great amount of time each day reading, but reading things that are not anything I really want to read. You see, my work involves a great deal of reading, reading contracts, reading briefs, reading research materials. Oh and news; I read news. This past week, I read almost every article I could find on Game of Thrones. Therapy. I think it was therapy.

By Friday, I had graduated from the articles criticizing the plot, of which there were many, and came across one or two articles about writing methodology, articles meant to explain the writing process in a way that I have not ever been exposed to. Writing. Wow, what a loaded thing to read about. Sure, I write these really elementary articles. And then there was that story I once wrote about a girl who gets a collie, but actually write? I don’t know. But I would like to hope that somehow, from my many years of experience reading, and for that matter, telling stories, that I could get it right. If I wanted to. And I’m not alone.

There apparently are many Game of Thrones fans who think the show-runners got it wrong, who think the show-runners sold the show short to take their more lucrative new gig writing for the Star Wars franchise, so many that a petition was circulated on change.org asking HBO to re-do the final season. Last I looked, the petition had 1 million signatures. The show-runners even called out the fans, the newer fans, I think, for being less intelligent … than someone. I’m not sure it helps to call one’s audience stupid.

But for all the time I put into watching Game of Thrones, and I was very into this show, the ending left me with such a hole. Okay, there’s a scene that’s about as good as a girl getting her collie, but that’s about it. The character I liked the most, Daenerys Targaryen, went full-on bat-shit cray. The actress was even sad about that story line. Perhaps it was necessary for the writers. Perhaps no story can end the way one wants. Perhaps it’s just hard to end any story in way that’s good. That was my brother’s consolation to me last week – no show ends in a good way, he said.

I’m not a show watcher. And I doubt I’ll ever watch one to this extent again. It’s just too much for me emotionally. And I don’t have time to read article after article for therapy. That’s crazy itself, and I know it. Perhaps I’m better left to songs. Songs seem to last forever. But then again, perhaps they don’t.

I’m a big fan of those catchy pop songs that I love for a few weeks, that I play over and over, and then …never want to hear again. Perhaps that’s what TV shows are supposed to be – something like a pop song that one plays over and over again, and then hates.

I don’t know. But I would like to think that a story, and this show was supposed to be a story, … could last. I don’t know if people will think the ending was good, but for me, this ending turned the entirety of the show into a pop song. Like a pop song I can’t get enough of, I sat all day watching the re-runs of this season, all five prior episodes of this season, then the sixth — the finale. And when that was done, my only thought was …

Finally.

That’s it for me. Game of Thrones is done. Just like a pop song, click, change the channel.

So, I dedicate to Game of Thrones my now-favorite pop song, this song called Bad Guy, by Billie Eilish, the new artist people compare to Lana Del Rey, who isn’t like her at all. I’m so into it right now, turn it way up on the car radio, love to say the duh line. But I know what’s coming in three weeks. I’ll hear a note of this song and rush to click to a different radio station.

Still, I would like to dedicate something stronger to Daenerys Targaryen, my favorite Game of Thrones character. I don’t care what they did to you; you’ll always be my favorite. Perhaps someday, when I get good enough … or brave enough, I’ll write a character who’s a bit of good and a bit of bad, just to do her justice.

Until then, I’m really glad for the part in Game of Thrones about the dog, okay wolf, but … same thing. A story should always end with a person getting a dog. Hey, maybe my Daenerys can get the dog. Oh, and perhaps I should keep that promise I made to my dad to start reading again, make it a promise to myself.

Finally.