Drama in the Afternoon

When I was young, I would be put down for a nap in the afternoons. The timing was right to give my mother the break she needed (wanted?) to watch As the World Turns followed by The Guiding Light. Battles ensued as I outgrew the need for that nap. Did you ever have to kneel on your hands in the corner? I did. I doubt not napping was the reason why, but for some reason the memories are tied together. My mom was a good mom. It was just a different time. No disrespect, eh, mom?

My grandmother watched the same shows. Soap Operas. They were like a family heirloom handed down from generation to generation.

Watchers were loyal. Once committed, you did not switch to Days of Our Lives or Santa Barbara. You picked or inherited your show(s) and that was that.

My older sister watched the same soaps after our mom died. I watched them, too. In my early adult working life I taped them on a VCR and watched them after work. Egads, is all I can say.

I’m not quite sure when I finally decided enough was well and good enough. I did though. I stopped cold turkey. Somebody recently told me they are still on…..the soaps….with a lot of the same cast members! Geriatric soap operas. Hmph, that’s something.

I understand why they are/were successful. Many people thrive on drama. Juicy gossip to share and spread about characters on TV. Better them, than your own friends and family I’d say.

Afternoon drama with commercials was a marketer’s match made in heaven, almost as good as football and beer commercials. Those soap companies were pretty clever.

I wonder what affect those conflict filled shows had on my perceptions of life and the world. Nowadays, I search for other things to feed my soul and mind. I’ll leave the drama for those who want it. Some do.

Plenty of it to be found, right?