_{ABOUT US}

What can you tell about yourself that will make people who don't know you see the real you? How do you find the right words to describe the feelings that you have inside of you?

Now, for those of you who don't know, GM and AG were supposed to get married, but for some reason - they didn't. At the time, one of the fans took it upon herself to collect cards from the world wide fans and send the couple an album with all of the wishes.

This letter was written by Elly for GM's and AG's wedding album...

Dear Jim and Blair,

About a year ago I started surfing the websites of the Sentinel because I was bored. My life was on hold and I had no idea what I was doing here on planet earth. I was alone because I chose to be, suffering from low self-esteem and acute procrastination. The Sentinel had been gone a few months before that. For some strange reason, although I thought it was just another cop show (don't look at me like that - we only had 2 seasons!) I decided to immerse myself in the fandom that I found on the net.

There I found that the fans saw more to you guys that was ever portrayed on screen. I found out about friendship and trust, and that putting your problems away in a bag and carrying it around for several years is NOT a good idea.

But most importantly, I found a friend. At such a bleak moment in my life, I never expected to find a new friend over the net, let alone discover that this new-found friendship would develop into something deeper…

Her name is Osnat. She had been left in tears because you, Blair, was found damp in that university fountain. She was new on the internet and hadn't met any solid online friends yet. She, like I, was looking for someone to talk to about the Sentinel.

The first few emails that we exchanged were so easily written, and the contents so easily shared, that it seemed that we've already been friends before, and were merely catching up on old times. As the emails grew longer and more frequent, we realized that we've gone past being friends, we're now kindred spirits. Is it possible to be so close to someone you've never met face to face? Oh yes, Osnat and I are living proof. :)

She's taught me to love again, and to look forward to the future. She's taught me that friendship is a gift, and that love conquers all. Corny, yes, but how very true. I couldn't imagine how I would've faced my life in this past year without her. I guess I'd probably still be under that rock, moping, alone.

Watching you guys on screen have let us see the similarities between you guys and us. I am a lot like Jim, and Osnat is my Blair. I shake my head every time I think that I let a tv show teach me about life. But the fans see you guys more than just a tv show, to us you are alive, your pain and joy are real to us; and we are thankful that you have shared your lives with us. :)

As you guys have shown us, life isn't without challenges. Osnat and I could never visit each other in our own countries, at least until Malaysia and Israel start changing their policies. Some of the stuff we've sent each other by snail mail have gone missing, and once Osnat got an empty envelope from me: the contents have been abducted by unknown person/s. Can you imagine the wailing we did? Unfortunately, there is no one whom we can bring this forward to, since our countries are not even supposed to have diplomatic relations. Sad, but true.

Fortunately, we do have enough mail from each other to sigh over when things don't turn out the way they're supposed to. And we have the internet. Plus, we're great dreamers: we hope to be able to go to Australia one day to meet. Osnat adores kangaroos and it's near enough for me! Something as small as feuding countries and letter-nappers won't stop our friendship. It makes us sad, yes, but it won't stop who we are to each other.

To think it wouldn't have been possible if that building wasn't built near Osnat's house and blocked their reception of the free channels, thus forcing them to get cable then (and indirectly, the Sentinel). And to think that if I had lived somewhere outside of our capital city, I wouldn't have ever seen the Sentinel, and worse yet, have never met Osnat. Life is full of weird coincidences, isn't it? Osnat and I just thank our lucky stars and enjoy the ride.

*sigh* The best thing that I've ever come across in the Sentinel fandom to describe my friendship with Osnat is a poem by Shiloh, titled 'The Heart of a Friend'. Amazingly, it's a description of your friendship too. The first time I read it, I cried. I rarely found something so moving, and I'm glad I found it; because you two inspired it and indirectly breathed friendship into both Osnat's life and mine. Here is a copy of that poem, what do you guys think?

So, thank you, guys, for being who you are: with all your imperfections, hopes and fears, you are our inspiration and guidance. Life wouldn't be the same without you guys around. Thanks for making a difference.

Take good care of each other now. :)

Sincerely with love,

Elly

The Next letter is one that I worte to Richard and Garett. It was sent to them, together with a copy of Elly's above letter, at the end of 2003. I goes that you can say this is my side of the story :)

Dear Richard and Garett,

First of all let me introduce myself – my name is Osnat and I am a 23 year old from Israel. In all of the times when the thought about writing to an actor crossed my mind, it was quickly brushed off. After all, what can I say? I love your character? Because truth be told, I don’t know you guys as persons – as Richard and Garett. I only know Jim and Blair. Sure, I read interviews and stories from fans who have met you in person, but I don’t presume to say that reading those things is like knowing the real you. Only people who are close to you can say that.

I got the courage to write this letter after reading fans reports from meeting you guys at the MoonRidge 2002 event. I was so envy with them, because I knew that I had no way to be there and share the same experience – to meet you face to face and tell you how much your work as changed my life. No, it’s not a cliche’ here – The Sentinel really has changed my life, in so many ways. But it all comes down to one thing – one person – Elly.

Four and half years ago, after watching “Sentinel too – part one” I logged on to the net (something that I’ve done before maybe three times) and started to drown myself in The Sentinel’s fandom. The crusade for the salvation of the show, and Blair for that matter, was at its peak at the time, and I eagerly joined the fight. Then I saw Elly’s add – she was new to the fandom like me and was looking for someone to talk to about the show. We soon found ourselves talking our hearts out in long emails.

In Elly I have found a kindred spirit. She is the only person on earth who I know I can tell everything to, writing to her has actually caused me to stop writing in my diary – my letters to her have become my diaries. Sure, we had our ups and downs in our friendship, but the fact remains – Elly is my kindred spirit and I love her with all of my heart and soul. Our countries (Malaysia and Israel) do not have diplomatic relations, which means that the chances for us meeting in the near future are slim. Even regular mails which we once shared had to be stopped because it has become too dangerous to take the chance of someone finding out a Malaysian and an Israeli are in contact. So we have only our emails these days. Nevertheless, I feel her presence with me all the time - It’s an amazing feeling, to share one’s life with someone else on this deep level. She is beside me – through the laughter and joy of the good times, and the tears and support of the bad times.

I know that we are a proven proof that when you look beyond the race/religion blindfolds - you can find a treasure. Most people aren't trying to take that look, a fact that makes me feel that the connection that me and Elly share is even more important and special, like we kinda know a wonderful truth that other people don't know because they are...well fools I guess. When I look at the two of us I feel there is hope.

I think that this letter is both selfish and a bit giving. It’s selfish because I wanted you to know our story. To know Elly and me. And it’s giving because I wanted to thank you guys.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving Jim and Blair to us. For filling our lives with those wonderful people (because they are real people to us, not just characters on paper) and for making us care for them so much. And of course, I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance to meet my wonderful kindred spirit – Elly. I can’t imagine my life without her.

Your truly,

Osnat