 |
| By Elizabeth Weitz |
Let me begin by saying that I wasn't always a fan of the American version of The Office, in fact, for its first three years I refused to watch it at all out of loyalty to the British original. I came into it slowly, hating the first few episodes (which felt like copycats), trying to not be charmed by the goofy cuteness of Jim (John Krasinski), the painful insecurity of Pam (Jenna Fischer), the neediness of Michael (Steve Carell) or the blatant kissassery of Dwight (Rainn Wilson) but by episode 4 (The Alliance) I was hooked and hooked hard (against my will) and from that point on, I was what you might call an "Office Freak" (and now, those first few episodes are beloved).
Then, a few years later something happened to make The Office not just a TV show I enjoyed, but a TV show I needed.
In January 2012 I woke up in debilitating pain and unable to walk without screaming. It was a sudden and unexpected event that had no known cause behind it. In fact, the doctors had no idea what was happening. There were X-rays, MRIs, Cortisone shots, countless trips to the hospital for blood work, pain pills, pills for infections, pills, pills, pills...and finally, inserting needles into the nerves of my spine and burning them off (every six months) all in the hopes that whatever was happening could be slowed down.
I'll spare you the more boring details other than I've lived with this for three years now (with the only diagnosis being Fibromyalgia- a condition where your brain is somehow triggered into not being able to process pain correctly and therefore believes your entire body is on fire and someone is trying to put it out by beating the flames down with a sledgehammer) and the only thing that has made it bearable has been The Office.
 |
| (Looks Incredulously At Writer) |
