[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Interfere with my life in a negative way? No. For me, Tolkien's works have been a wonderful source of inspiration, and even guidance. I have composed symphonies and songs inspired by his works, have written novels, both original and fanfic, that grew from the love of storytelling and world-building that I saw in his works. I have been inspired in the graphic arts, and learned a great deal in the process that helped me refine my craft and technique. As a very much "lost child" and family scapegoat, I discovered positive adult role models that spoke to me in powerful ways in his books. I have never believed that any of these places or peoples are real (though I wished they might be, when I was young; living in my house felt worse than Mordor). My greatest "obsession," if it could even have been called such, was a desire in my teenage years to speak to the Professor and thank him for what he had unknowingly given me. I never worked up the nerve to write him before he died; the closest I ever came was when I was 17 and the school choir to which I belonged went on a concert tour in England and Scotland. One day, we stopped for our lunch only a few miles from where Tolkien lived, and I nearly "jumped ship" to run off to find him. Alas, I was too well-behaved, and again didn't work up the nerve. A pity. I only hope that in whatever existence he enjoys now, he knows how very grateful I am for all he has given me.