Listen I know everything's already been done and there are no "new" ideas and all that. I know it's been that way for years.
But sometimes I see examples of things being repeated and I'm shocked. Why is that?
For instance, I've been watching the show ThirtySomething from the late 80's early 90's. I don't actually watch television, but I dabble in Hulu when I can't sleep and, well, I haven't been sleeping much lately. So yeah. Many of the subject they talk about concerning social reform and environmental safety open my eyes to the fact that I am NOT the first mother to buy organic food for my toddler, I am NOT the first mother to be concerned with petitions and polutions, Brendan and I are NOT the first couple to toy with lots of different ideas surrounding our financial and work states. Hell we're not the first couple to hate each other sometimes.
I forget the particular instance, and believe me I really do know Brendan and I aren't the first couple in the world - much less the first couple to have all the crazy ideas we have, but something one of the couples did literally made me gasp. Not because what they were doing was SO crazy but because it's something Brendan and I do, or have done or something like that. I never knew anyone else to do that! (again, I don't remember what it was at all) It was just the idea that SOME ONE ELSE was doing that very thing! Not only that, but someone on a TELEVISION SHOW! That means that not only has someone else done that very thing, but then either they wrote about it, someone they know wrote about it or someone who knows someone they know wrote about it. Or, even if no "real" couple exists that went through or did this particular thing (gosh, I do wish I could remember what that thing was, but I'm not rewatching any of the episodes to find out), someone made it up in a believable way which generally means that it has happened or almost happened or happens all the time - writers write about what they know.
Short story long, I don't know why I was so incredibly SHOCKED to see first hand (or whatever hand television gives you) that Brendan and I are SO not original. It was a little crazy.
Oh, and another thing. I went to look at the family games section at WalMart the other day while Brendan was asking the friendly personnel at the Tire Shop a question. There are some interesting looking games out there, and I really wanted to try at least one of them out (like we have the time), but they were almost $30! Ouch!
When did family games get so expensive? And why!?!
That's it for today.
That's wild. This sounds like a more interesting twist in the concept, "Each generation must learn for itself that the fire is hot." And not only did someone else go through exactly what you thought you were the only one of, how old are those shows again? I love your insights and your writing. Your mother is very lucky to have raised such a brilliant person! :)
ReplyDeleteAbout family games, check out some of your local thrift stores. That can be a crap shoot, but, hey, you never know.
Yeah, I mean that's the thing, I KNOW we're not the first couple to do anything we do... it's still so weird to see that other people DO it... Even though I know they do.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that show is over 20 years old. TWENTY YEARS OLD, and still relevant. I don't know if that's a statement to how great the show is or to how much we really do repeat history over and over in both minor and major ways.
Oh, that's where I usually get all of our games. And puzzles. I was just shocked at how much they went up! The last time I looked was when I was pregnant with Mira - maybe a year and a half ago and the most expensive game I saw then was just over $24. Is it right that they should go up $4 in just a year and a half? Insane.