Monday, March 9, 2009

Save the Drama

Confession Time: "I am a recovering Soap Addict"


Not the pretty, good smelling, get-you-clean kind of soap but the kind that are on every afternoon while the kids are down for naps kind of Soaps.


It started innocently enough. My grandmother was a "Young and Restless" fan and since I spent a lot of time at her house growing up I too learned all about Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, the Brooks sisters and of course Snapper (David Hasselhoff before he hit the beach on Baywatch).

In fact I will never hear the theme song for Y&R without thinking of my beloved Nana.
By high school I was hooked on "my own" soaps;

--I cried when Jenny died in that jet-ski accident on "All My Children"
--I was disgusted by Dorian and her antics on "One Life to Live"
--I celebrated when Luke and Laura finally married on "General Hospital"
(I really knew I was in trouble when I found myself wanting to pray for some of these characters, lol).

Yes, I was a soap opera junkie!
The funny thing was that all of that drama seemed to somehow rub off into my own life.

HMMM? I wonder:

Why is my husband working late?... Could he be cheating on me?

What did my mother mean by that comment?....
And is she REALLY my mother?

Is my sister plotting revenge against me for some unknown reason?....OK that is very possible but you get the picture!


Why is it that as women we are drawn to drama like a moth to a flame?
Drama is what keeps us watching.
It makes the plot interesting and keeps us from getting bored.
Drama is also contagious.
It spreads quickly and if left unchecked drama can lead to destruction;
destruction of marriages,friendships, families and eventually destruction of self.

Today not only are the same soap operas I used to watch on the air (along with a parental block option) but reality shows are all the rage. Not surprisingly there has been much in the way of negative fall-out for those who have chosen to share their lives (and drama) with the public.

Fortunately I am in a long-term remission from my soap addiction. Every now and then I catch a glimse of a character I recognize (funny how they all look just like they did 20 years ago) but I have no idea what is happening in Pine Valley, Llanview or Port Charles and honestly I don't want to know. I am a mother of 5 daughters and that is more than enough drama for me to handle. I am too busy living reality to spend time watching it on TV!





13 comments:

Paula V said...

With five girls, you have your own reality tv, huh?

luvmy4sons said...

After my conversion experience I gave up soaps too! I still wonder about them now and then while waiting nithegrocery isle! LOL!

Laurie Ann said...

Ooooh, I, too, cried when Jenny died. Remember when evil Grant (not to be confused with sane grant) put the hairpin in Cecilia's hairdryer and killed her? Yeah - she ressurrected but Jenny never did. Oh, the drama!

I don't miss it either.

Kelly said...

I used to love Guiding Light. Now if I catch a glimpse of what I used to watch, I am shocked by the "perversion" of it all. I'm so glad I'm over that!

Yes, I am drama here too with my 2 girls.

Jackie said...

You are soooo right, Kelley - it's way too easy to get caught up in all of this fake drama. I was addicted to GH at one point of my life, and I had to put an afternoon TV ban on myself to break myself from it.

Darlene said...

Preach it sister! I too grew up in the land of Soaps. It is a hard habit to break. I still catch myself tuning in to see what is going on. I am trying to break the habit. One day....
Blessings!

Pat said...

Hi Kelley,
It's been a while since my last visit. You are always fun to read. I can so relate to the SOAP saga

Pat said...

sorry Kelley...I lost my internet for a minute.
Anyway, blessings to you girl!
Pat

Lelia Chealey said...

As I have never watched soaps before I grew up with a Grandma who does. It was crazy watching her get so wrapped up in it and have conversations about the stars of the soaps as if they really dressed up as a doctor and performed surgery on their lovers mother.
Great post!

Kathy Schwanke said...

You took me back. I had forgotten about Port Charles...Now I am thinking about Ashley...who everyone named their babies after in the late 80's. Funny, Victor never came in for the latest boy's name...even now in the age of vintage names.

Glad I don't have that in my life! Blogging takes all my "extra time" now! lol

Anonymous said...

I used to watch, "All my Children" years ago. My sister got me hooked. I too, remember Jenny ski accident. What drama. I too have enough drama in my life. Who needs soaps when we have real life.

Love, Paulette

Christina said...

I know exactly what you mean. I spent many an hour watching soaps in my younger year and then one day they just lost their appeal.

Christina said...

PS I was reading some of the other comments and forgot to mention that I named my son after Brandon Walsh (Beverly Hills 90210). Thank God I am not watching this now, I can only imagine the names they have come up with.