I love to watch General Hospital. It's been one of my favorites for over twenty years. I did try to stop watching it when our children were young. Complaints that young ears and eyes shouldn't been exposed to certain issues and visuals on TV did guilt me. Taping it and watching it at a later time back then just didn't work; definitely not enough hours in the day when kids are young. There was a time when I knew all the lyrics to every song on Barney. A proud moment back then for me, although certainly weird when I think about it now. Mom's...that's how we are.
As my children are aging I realize I watch less and less television, others control the remote and I won't battle that battle. I rarely turn on the TV during the day because there a so many other things that need my attention in my time alone. If the TV comes on I will sit and watch, then nothing gets accomplished. I don't really like to watch repeats either. Public Radio fills my ears and days. I like it that way. Even though I could watch my soap now while my hubby is at work and the kids are at school, I just find it hard to sit and vegge-out. Too many years of being conditioned to get things done when you can...and besides, I love the DVR. How cool to skip commercials or watch details over and over or just be able to hit pause while I answer the phone. So daily the DVR records my vice.
While I am cooking in the kitchen or late in the evening while knitting and trying to relax I like to catch up on the lives of those in Port Charles. My 13 year old knows all the characters too! Just as Barney was a tool to teach..."clean up, clean up, everybody every where..." my soap is a teaching tool as well. Yes my face can redden over certain issues: faulty condoms, one-night stands, compromising visuals...but I look at these reddening moments as times to teach. I am not shy about voicing my opinions or asking, "what do you think of that?" I also point out the differences of reality versus fantasy. After all, my soap is fictional. That said, I realise the writers of my favorite show need to get their material from someplace.
Yesterday I was with my daughter in a craft store when the young ladies behind us started having a conversation that caught our ears. The girls were in their mid-twenties. I didn't look at them because I certainly never want to see them again and have the opinions I was forming rear their heads. The first says to the other, 'I am 23 and dating a guy that's 43...can you believe that?' The second says, 'that's nothing I was dating a 49 year old when I was 23 and he was my neighbor.' Boy, did my daughter and I share a funny look and our ears perked up even more! I bit my tongue in commenting to these young vixens. It was more fun to listen to them and share this moment with my daughter! The second girl went on to say that this guy proposed to her and she accepted, but two days later she changed her mind. He had bought her a ring too but it worried her to wear it because he'd spent $50,000.00 dollars on it. GIVE ME A BREAK! I wanted to laugh out loud. This story almost seemed believable too until I heard the price of the ring and number 2 continued by saying that her "boyfriend" always kept his doors unlocked...except for the night she went to break up. It was two in the morning and she found things locked up tight. Naturally she did the logical thing and she crawled through the doggie-door, then woke him and broke the news to him. Too funny!
The conversation my daughter and I had as we returned to our car was about the age difference first. Tried as I might, picturing my 43 year old self with someone 20 years my younger is hysterical! Oh, I could certain get a 23 year old, but what would his problems be? To be interested in someone 20 years older than himself, he would certainly have issues! Then, no one spends $50,000.00 dollars on an engagement ring. And if they did...how STUPID was this chick to let him go! If he had that kind of money for a ring he must certainly have more for other things. Dumb, dumb, dumb!
Finally, my daughter and I talked about the fact that these girls felt the need to talk in public about this personal stuff. They definitely were trying to make themselves feel better. Talk about having issues!
My daughter and I went home sipping our frappachinos and turned on the DRV so we could watch our friends in Port Chuck. Maybe fantasy mimics reality more than I like to admit! :)
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