Page 6
11 Tributes
From: BDVOTEE@aol.com
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2001 6:08 AM
Having just read the (thus far) 100 tributes on this site, i feel compelled to add my 'two cents'... When X:WP aired on September 5, 1995, i was in the midst of one of the most horrifying, soul-shattering events of my life. I had come home to find *my* soulmate dead, by her own hand. In the sixteen years we were together, the last several were painful---her alcoholism fueled my detachment; i was at a loss as to how to cope with watching a beloved friend and the love of my life slip away. When i met Sheila i was going through a painful separation from a man i thought i would stay married to, forever. She soon became my friend and then my lover (or, as i used to say: "she chased me, until i caught her") We began our travels together, across the country, at the beginning of the new year,1980. I was 23 and i embarked on a roller-coaster ride, with this woman by my side... Needless to say, i didn't 'notice' X:WP until a friend's brother alerted me to it. Now i know that Mr. Tapert has said that only "C and D" characters can be same-sex lovers, but from the moment i first watched the show, i 'saw' something different. What i felt, what resonated within me, was that this show was telling 'our' story. She: a taller, dark-haired, blue-eyed gal who didn't take crap from anyone, and who protected me with all that she was. Me: a short, skinny blond who was eager to flee this Texas town; to find myself in a world that, despite my college degree and earlier, European travels, had yet to reveal itself to me, or my place in it... "Xena:Warrior Princess" quickly became a balm for my soul; and later, the fan-fic which emerged, from the talent and imaginations of all those 'cyber bards', served to 'heal' me in ways i can not begin to say. So, with this missive, i wish to pay tribute and homage to those who brought us this wonderful show (which has been all things to so many) into our homes and into our hearts. Lucy and Renee took two characters and rendered them immortal; Rob Tapert courageously presented his 'vision' and made the world a better place for it; the various writers and others involved gave its audience a magnificent gift, to be treasured for a long time to come. What more can be said, except: THANK YOU!!! I'll miss y'all... Sincerely, Betsy (Duncan) from Texas
From: wichitawilly@hotmail.com
Date: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 1:51 PM
I been watching Xena from the first time the began. I have enjoyed all the shows that they have made. I taped them off from the television,so when it is over I can still watch them. Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor are fantastic actress, they played their roles really great. Xena has helped me to focus on what I am doing,plus to keep my mind on one thing at a time. I have always been interested in Greek Mythology,so when Xena has a run in with the Gods it is really great to watch. I learned a lot about the Greek Gods on this show. I really like the scenery of New Zealand , I have always wanted to go there. When I watch the show I fell like I am there in New Zealand. I live in the U.S.A. I would love to see were the shows where taped in New Zealand some day. I have enjoyed all the other actors and actress that were on the show. I thought it was great to see Lucy,Renee,Ted play all the look a likes to their own character. I am in the Xena fan club, I have all four kits. I understand how hard it is to tape a show now. I was glad that Xena had some comedy in the episode that they made. Thanks for all the wonderful shows . Carol (e-mail address-wichitawilly@hotmail.com )
Download the Xena Browser at http://www.studiosusa.com/tv/xena/index.html
From: "DelainePep"
DelainePep@chartermi.net
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 9:40 AM
What can I say about Xena Warrior Princess that the others havent said.I just know that 2 years ago I was in minnesota visiting my family and my mother was watchingHerc and Xena.Well at first I thought she was nuts.Then later that year I was bored and flipping channels and lo and behold there was Xena. I sat and watched it and I will never forget the episode.It was In Sickness and In Hell.Probably my all time favorite.I laughed till I was crying and I woke up my whole house. I was hooked ever since.I didnt have sci-fi but asked my husband to pay 1.95 a month for it so I could watch Xena.I have watched two beautiful women grow in such awesome ways.I love the friendship between Xena and Gabrielle.I do not think another show will come on to get into such depth of a friendship such as theirs. I will be lost now without Xena.But I do know I am a better person because of it.I cherish the friends and family I have even more now.It is through Lucy and Renee that made this show what it was.I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for letting us into your hearts and we will forever be changed by allowing you to touch our hearts as well. I hope life treats you all kindly and that you all will be back on television someday and together would be awesome.thank you Rob and company for doing the 2 best shows on TV.Herc and Xena.We will miss you all! Delaine Peplinski
From: "Karen"
Email: kmrn@helicon.net
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 3:27 PM
It is quite difficult to attempt to express my depth of
feeling for this show. I have been a fan of Xena: Warrior Princess since her character was
first introduced on Hercules. When I first saw her I immediately thought that the
character would certainly be "killed off". I did not think that such a strong,
empowering female character would be permitted to exist on American television. I did not
find out until much later that that was the intended outcome for the character of Xena.
How very grateful I am to TPTB that I was wrong. She was not only permitted to exist but
excel.
Much has happened over the course of these six years both on and off screen. I am grateful
to Lucy, Renee and everyone involved in the production of this show for sharing with us
the fruits of their labors. I laughed and have been moved to tears by the events in the
lives of Xena and Gabrielle. These two characters have proved to be a source of strength
to me in my personal life. None of this would have happened without the tremendous
abilities of these two actresses and the gift they have in their craft. I applaud you both
and wish you continued success in all your present and future endeavors. You hold a
special place in my heart. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Karen M. Repasy
kmrn@helicon.net
From: Luc4eva@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 2:25 PM
I remember the first time I saw "Xena." It was
Saturday night, and I was
in fifth grade. From watching "Hercules once in a while, I knew they were
going to have a new show, and I remember looking forward to watching the
first episode. It just so happened that I was almost not allowed to watch,
but I did. Then I watched the next episode and the next and the next....
I'm fifteen now and in 10th grade, and I have been watching ever since.
Friends changed, family changed, places changed, clothes, music, etc. But the
one thing that stayed the same was my every week "watching Xena" tradition.
As I grew up, I saw Xena and Gabrielle grow up. I saw their friendship
grow: the good times and the bad. I can still remember Gabrielle in her blue
peasant dress- words as her weapon. Now she has abs of steel and can kick
some major butt! I remember the first episode of Callisto, though I didn't
like her at first. I changed my mind later on...;). I remember Hope (love
her!) and Joxer. I remember Autolycus and Helen. M'Lila. I remember them all.
This might be merely a TV show; but to me, they are people- people who
live in the Xenaverse. They laugh, they cry, they hug, they FEEL. We all saw
the emotions.
*Thank you to all the actors and actresses for showing such
real emotions.
*Thank you to Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi for even thinking about Xena.
*Thank you to the writers for writing great episodes (and some not so great).
*Thank you to the crew for making it possible for me and other fans to watch
"Xena" on TV.
* Thank you to all my fellow fans who I could always talk to about "Xena."
They better make a movie!
From: MDSonny11@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 6:54 AM
I will miss Xena's courage, her battle with her inner self. Her friendship for Gabby. The views of New Zealand were incredible..what a natural set for an action show. Thank you Lucy...you will be missed. Diane
From: "Ruth Boetzel"
Email: dreambard@clara.co.uk
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 5:47 AM
I have to admit I didn't watch the show from the beginning -
living in the
UK and not having satellite TV doesn't help. I remember zapping around one
day in 1998 and catching a bit of an episode, can't even remember what it
was. It looked interesting but then I went back to another channel. A couple
of weeks later I came across another episode and watched...and watched...and
was hooked! It was 'The Greater Good' - the strength of the friendship
between the two characters was absolutely amazing and it is still one of my
favourite episodes. Two women, strong and determined to make their own
destiny, with no men in the background to get them out of trouble or make
their decisions for them - that was new and it felt fantastic!
The story lines - bold and nothing like the usual TV show fare, you never
knew what would be coming next, it was funny, poignant, dramatic, hilarious,
sad; the fights - over the top, campy and such good fun, yes XWP got me
hooked on martial arts (practising with sais or a staff really is good fun).
But the strongest point for me is the friendship and love
between Xena and
Gabrielle and my biggest thank you has to go to Lucy and Renee for making it
happen, for showing us that with this powerful relationship you can get
through anything.
It was a privilege to see you together on stage in Pasadena!
Lucy, thank you for bringing the dark & light of the
warrior princess to
life, for giving us a hero with flaws, somebody who is not afraid to take
the rocky path instead of the easy way out, for battling on against all
odds.
Renee, thank you for letting us witness Gabrielle's growing
up from the
'annoying blonde' (I never agreed with that statement, I still think early
S1 Gabrielle is more than funny) to Xena's best friend and battling bard of
Potadeia - be it with words or weapons. Trying to find your way and being
true to yourself is what life is all about.
The day the show ends will be a sad day for me, but the magic
will always be
there and the friends I got to know will stay.
Finally I want to thank Rob Tapert and the whole Xena crew
for giving us the
best show ever to appear on TV! Your vision and perseverance have touched
many people's lives all over the world!
Ruth (Norwich, UK)
From: "Terri"
Email: Tazz2july@ameritech.net
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 7:35 AM
My life changed drastically and for the worst in the winter
of 1995. I
lost even more of my health, my job, my sense of self and my joy, but
nothing was as scary as when I thought I was going to loose my Life
Partner of 15 years, Beth to Lupus.
This was the darkest time in my life and it was Xena and Gab
that got us
both through. Each week we'd huddle together in Beth's hospital bed and
watch the new episodes. It was one of the few things that makes Beth
feel better. And, I'm not sure, even now how this happened, but somehow
Xena got through to my very battle scarred heart and made me realize
that I will always have what it takes to make it, inside of me. This
was quite a revelation!
When Beth was diagnosed and hospitalized, it was the first
time in all
her life that she had ever been really sick. I've had bad health all my
life so I can deal w/it mostly, but to see someone so athletic and
strong become so sick broke my very soul in pieces. I would walk to the
hospital at 6 in the morning so we could have breakfast together in her
room and I'd leave at 10pm at night walking always by myself the
30-minute or so walk from the hospital. I was terrified of loosing
her. When Beth's Lupus went into remission I was soo happy, Lord, we
both were, but I found myself always wondering when will the relapse
come, how long do we have 2gether still?
I'm still working on this one, daily, but Xena taught me that life is
too short to live in fear of it. Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us
but we can make today, whatever we choose.
"Thank You' just falls so incredibly short of what's in
my heart so I
pledge to live the best life being - the best me - for as long as I have
with my Beth, and laughing as much as I can!
Terri Bradshaw
From: <Carol Davis>
Email: wichitawilly@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 8:37 AM
I have enjoyed the xena shows alot. Lucy Lawless& Renee O'Connor are great actress. They have helped me to focus on what Iam doing. I have all the shows on tape, that way I can watch Xena when every I want to.
Thanks for all the great shows.
Carol
From: "margaret e greska"
Email: pegasus972@juno.com
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 4:32 PM
I don't know what to say about Xena. To me this show has been
many
things. It made me laugh, it made me cry(and believe me-I don't cry
easily). I know that to many people it was just a television show. Yes,
I got the odd looks and eye rolls from people who were uninitiated into
the show when I would go on and on about it. Saying that it is my
favorite show ever. Somehow, these words are not articulate enough to
describe my feelings for the show. It was a balm to my soul during a
very hard time in my life when most days I just didn't care anymore and
wanted to just give up on life and hide away in some corner. I know it
is only a TV show, but somehow this unassuming and oddball show wormed
its way into my heart and gave me something to look forward to. It's
depiction of two friends who stand by each other no matter what, through
the good and the bad, gave me hope that maybe there are still people out
there that you can count on. That maybe the whole damn world isn't
really the awful, cynical, hateful place that it sometimes seems to be.
I mean if just a TV show, which when you think about the great scheme of
things isn't really all that important, can make one person have a little
more hope, maybe there's hope for us all. I don't know, but I sure hope
so. And that's something I haven't done in a really long time.
Goodbye, Xena and Gabrielle.
You will be missed.
Peg
From: "Virginia & Lourdes S."
Email: twinxenas@netzero.net
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 9:31 AM
Hi Lucy and Renee,
We just dropped by to thank you both for entertaining us thru
the years.
Thank you for all the hardwork, time and effort you both dedicated to the
success of the show. Xena: Warrior Princess is the best thing that ever
happened to us. It brought joy and meaning to our lives.
XENA made us laugh, cry, think and wonder. XENA was a
complete package and
more. We could not watch another tv show with the same passion and drive
that we have for XENA because it's SIMPLY THE BEST! It will be a part of
our lives forever.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Virginia and Lourdes aka TwinXenas
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