"I hate and love. You question "How?" I lack an answer . . .
- Catullus
We all have our love/hate relationships, and as my dearest friends know, mine is with television. A close second is any carbonated beverage. Yes, I confess, I have been watching a lot of television lately, and not witty British sitcoms or gourmet cooking shows, but ridiculous, almost asinine programs which involve unrealistic surgical procedures. Every week I rise from the sofa cursing myself for yet again falling into the clutches of these bad actors, and even worse writers, but then I find myself reverting to sunken body and brain status the next week. I am always disappointed and I am always ashamed of myself.
For awhile I actually plunged into the addiction, telling myself that I was simply overwrought and I deserved a break from everything, but if it was truly a break, wouldn't I return from my viewing retreat refreshed, invigorated, not more overwrought?
What we love about television is that we are able to escape from the world completely, but more, we like to be voyeurs, somehow getting a taste of the fast-paced and sexy life without bearing the consequences of it ourselves. At least, this is what I seem to love about television. But, after awhile, it loses its glamour, because I realize I am being deceived. This kind of drama cannot possibly happen to the same group of people in the same hospital, neighborhood, etc. But, of late, I have realized the biggest deception is how easily these characters get over their drama - a death, a divorce, loss of a friend or lover. Soon, everyone is laughing again as if tragedy did not enter their lives only a few weeks ago.
Laughter - it is humanity's gift - Don't take life so seriously - lighten up - it's not that big of a deal. As an over sensitive, over-the-top dramatic romantic, I have always taken offense at this mantra, but now, I think perhaps it's just a case of being too emotionally engaged in everything I confront, which makes the world's influence a little more dangerous for me in particular. Of course I'm not going to start a "Kill your T.V.!" campaign, but I am going to try not to watch any more sitcoms.
Day One: I will not watch ABC tonight. I will sing to myself - Be braaaaave, Piglet! I will ignore the bottle of Crush luring me to the ice box with its tantalizing orange glow . . .
Okay, Katya, one thing at a time.
4 comments:
bird by bird, my dear.
you could watch reruns of Northern Exposure (my personal evening bliss), or Six Feet Under (both intelligent and addictive!).
What I don't understand is Catallus. Really, now!
I love the addition of images!
If I leave a comment, then you know I'm reading your blog, which you may or may not be comfortable with. Anyway, on the days I see you and Misha go by, I often think, "Ah yes, Miss New York again". The question is, is it something that you can get rid of, is it something that will go away by itself, is it something you should even bother yourself about? As long as you know that your deepest sense of identity is way deeper than that, you might as well wear your fur-lined short coat in a dairy barn, and laugh at and with yourself for doing it.
Once you finish reading Dante's Inferno (wink) maybe you could read one of the Sister Chick novels by Robin Gunn and be happy about a little noiseless out-of-body, mind-transporting adventure without guilt and all the while sip some worthy wine! Now that's a way to fight the TV and soda blues, Baby! SWAK
You know we don't even have a TV, but a friend (from church, so I CAN justify this) recently lent us the DVDs of "Arrested Development". Since I am over a decade 'out of it' as far as TV/pop culture, I was amazed how quickly I fell back into it! You have my sympathy! I feel your pain! Even now, I am dying to go into the living room, prop my 7 1/2 month pregnant legs up (ignoring the disaster of toys everywhere) and watch Season 2... for the second time this month.
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