It’s not just a show, it’s a way of life. And the funny thing is that it’s been around for more than half of my life. It’s like a soap opera in that sense, but the plot is so much more exciting and dynamic. And the characters, oh the characters. There’s the original cast, the OG, many of whom are *tear* no longer with us today. (Spoiler alert) Let’s take a minute to mourn the loss of Izzy, McDreamy, McSteamy, Lexie, George and all the others (especially those who died in the crazy hospital shooting). And let’s also pause to think about Christina, Callie, and all the others who drifted from our screens and onto other shows (shameless plug for one of my other faves- Callie is now on Madam Secretary!). Watching the show has been a roller coaster of emotions. And I’m not just referring to all the characters who’ve come and gone (another spoiler- Meredith’s dad just died in a recent episode and it was oddly emotional). I’m also talking about plot lines. There was Callie falling for Mark and then getting together with Arizona (whom I hated at first but now I can’t imagine my life without her). There was the whole Izzy and George drama. And the whole George and Callie drama. And the drama with Meredith and her mom. And Meredith finding out that she had a sister Lexie. And Meredith finding out that she had a sister Maggie. And Weber finding out that he had a daughter. And we haven’t even gotten to the whole Chritina/Burke mess (Burke was ultimately let go from the show after making some homophobic comments. But they made the story work too!). And of course, Meredith and Derek getting Zolla. And their post-it note. And their house that he was building. All the emotions.

Those who have been with Grey’s Anatomy since the beginning are the true MVP’s. it hasn’t always been easy, especially as some seasons fizzled and it was hard to find the will to go on. Yet sticking by its side proved to be worthwhile, as Shonda returned with gusto and make us proud to be part of her journey. We’ve gotten a whole bunch of new characters. Quite frankly, we’ve always greeted them with initial distrust and dislike, but now it’s hard to imagine that we ever felt that way in the first place. They constant changing of characters, while keeping some of the older folks, has proven to be one of the key tactics of having this show stick around for 15, soon to be 16, years.

And let’s not forget about Shonda’s far reach. Grey’s inspired two spinoff shows. Private Practice was ah-mazing, and it’s sad that it’s no longer on the air. Addison Montgomery, McDreamy’s first wife, was the main character of that series. And now we’ve got Station 19, a spinoff involved Bailey’s husband as a firefighter. It’s not as great as the other two, but it’s worth a watch. Plus, watching the show will help fill in some of the Grey’s plot lines.

If you don’t feel well see a real doctor and while you’re in the waiting room read the rest of my Blog