Denise, Thank you for this beautiful essay.I identified with it in many ways (although I'm a tad older than you)!I watched GL and Search for Tomorrow with my Gram.They were her "stories" and were 15 min. each(it was the early 60's and i was 7).As I got older I watched whenever I could.I always tuned in to GL on July 4th for the Bauer BBQ!Thanks for the fan fiction as well.It is brilliant, I mean it.I've entertainted the idea of writing myself but I think my real talent might be as a great audience!Even your tweets are entertaining, sometimes thought provoking.Can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve for us next; I know it will be worth the wait. XO Tricia.
I identified with it in many ways (although I'm a tad older than you)!I watched GL and Search for Tomorrow with my Gram.They were her "stories" and were 15 min. each(it was the early 60's and i was 7).As I got older I watched whenever I could.I always tuned in to GL on July 4th for the Bauer BBQ!
Like families, each soap had its own rituals and traditions, and the Bauer BBQ is one of the best of them. I must admit I got misty eyed last 4th of July - I think a lot of us did.
Thanks for the fan fiction as well.It is brilliant, I mean it.I've entertainted the idea of writing myself but I think my real talent might be as a great audience!Even your tweets are entertaining, sometimes thought provoking.
I just can't help shooting my mouth off. :) But I'm glad you're enjoying the words.
Can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve for us next; I know it will be worth the wait.
Seatbelt on, tray table upright. Turbulence ahead. :)
"...because let's face it, as long as you're not buried alive, you're doing okay."
LMAO! So true.
I also see myself in your post, and I remember how upset my grandma was when Edge of Night was cancelled. It was our soap of choice when I was small, with All My Children, Days of Our Lives and Guiding Light filling in during my teenage years. I never really came back to soaps after I finished high school, not until Otalia sucked me back into Guiding Light and now with Crystal Chappell on DOOL I've been trying to get back into that one (with mixed results I'll admit)
It's the generational stories that will be missed. The memories of families watching together. The soap characters becoming extended parts of your own family as well. I hope it's not the end of a unique storytelling format. I agree, if we love the art form we will somehow find a way.
"...because let's face it, as long as you're not buried alive, you're doing okay."
LMAO! So true.
It's possible some tshirts may be in development with that phrase attached.
I also see myself in your post, and I remember how upset my grandma was when Edge of Night was cancelled. It was our soap of choice when I was small, with All My Children, Days of Our Lives and Guiding Light filling in during my teenage years. I never really came back to soaps after I finished high school, not until Otalia sucked me back into Guiding Light and now with Crystal Chappell on DOOL I've been trying to get back into that one (with mixed results I'll admit) I forgot to mention that at one time, I watched Edge of Night as well. God, I was such a little soap geek. But they made the world so much bigger than the narrow little space in which I lived. Soaps and books were the only things that made life tolerable for a lot of years
( ... )
It is like losing an old friend. To me, that's what soaps are about - friendship, with both the characters and with other viewers. It's not just watching the show - it's the connected experience of talking about it with other people and speculating and sharing experience.I'm so glad you had that with your mom - my mom hated soaps, so I never got to share that with her.
A friend once told me that she had a really challenging relationship with a relative, and then she found out they both watched the same soap - and finally they had a common ground place to talk and share experience. It makes me sad that that generational, legacy experience is going away, and that your old friends at OLTL won't be there for you any more.
And I'm afraid I missed Eternia, though I did semi keep track of what was going on via Soap Opera Digest. That was some weird shit, man. I'm sure sooner or later I'll track it down on YouTube. Thank GOD for YouTube!
Thank you for that. As usual, eloquent and in itself a story of a collective journey in life.
Anyone who reads my writing can see the influence pretty quick - there's a reason I've recently been dubbed Count Rugen, and it's not because of my looks. (God, I hope it's not because of my looks.)
Okay, I cracked up laughing here because of the reference, not your appearance.
The format might be the web, or it might be on different TV networks, or it might even be in serialized novels. (Not that I know anyone who's planning on embarking on that last venture. Really.)
Thank you for that. As usual, eloquent and in itself a story of a collective journey in life.
I am blessed and cursed with seeing connections everywhere I look. It's an illness.
Anyone who reads my writing can see the influence pretty quick - there's a reason I've recently been dubbed Count Rugen, and it's not because of my looks. (God, I hope it's not because of my looks.)
Okay, I cracked up laughing here because of the reference, not your appearance.
Well thank heaven for that.
The format might be the web, or it might be on different TV networks, or it might even be in serialized novels. (Not that I know anyone who's planning on embarking on that last venture. Really.)
I must say I dipped in and out of soaps much more than you did, I was largely a Days and General Hospital fan during my teens, Otalia dragged me back in and I must say I was spoiled by the overall quality of that last 18 months: the writing, the acting, and what you so eloquently point out, the luxurious pace that soaps could afford because they were in the story line for the long run.
A lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing both this and your own storytelling abilities!
I must say I dipped in and out of soaps much more than you did, I was largely a Days and General Hospital fan during my teens, Otalia dragged me back in and I must say I was spoiled by the overall quality of that last 18 months: the writing, the acting, and what you so eloquently point out, the luxurious pace that soaps could afford because they were in the story line for the long run.
The greatest stories have always been, to me, the ones that take a very long time to unfold. Soaps, multi-novel series, tv shows. Love me some long form. But then you knew that...
And we were so very, very spoiled by Otalia. It was old school storytelling at its very best.
A lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing both this and your own storytelling abilities!
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You're welcome. Thanks for actually reading it!
I identified with it in many ways (although I'm a tad older than you)!I watched GL and Search for Tomorrow with my Gram.They were her "stories" and were 15 min. each(it was the early 60's and i was 7).As I got older I watched whenever I could.I always tuned in to GL on July 4th for the Bauer BBQ!
Like families, each soap had its own rituals and traditions, and the Bauer BBQ is one of the best of them. I must admit I got misty eyed last 4th of July - I think a lot of us did.
Thanks for the fan fiction as well.It is brilliant, I mean it.I've entertainted the idea of writing myself but I think my real talent might be as a great audience!Even your tweets are entertaining, sometimes thought provoking.
I just can't help shooting my mouth off. :) But I'm glad you're enjoying the words.
Can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve for us next; I know it will be worth the wait.
Seatbelt on, tray table upright. Turbulence ahead. :)
Reply
LMAO! So true.
I also see myself in your post, and I remember how upset my grandma was when Edge of Night was cancelled. It was our soap of choice when I was small, with All My Children, Days of Our Lives and Guiding Light filling in during my teenage years. I never really came back to soaps after I finished high school, not until Otalia sucked me back into Guiding Light and now with Crystal Chappell on DOOL I've been trying to get back into that one (with mixed results I'll admit)
It's the generational stories that will be missed. The memories of families watching together. The soap characters becoming extended parts of your own family as well. I hope it's not the end of a unique storytelling format. I agree, if we love the art form we will somehow find a way.
Reply
LMAO! So true.
It's possible some tshirts may be in development with that phrase attached.
I also see myself in your post, and I remember how upset my grandma was when Edge of Night was cancelled. It was our soap of choice when I was small, with All My Children, Days of Our Lives and Guiding Light filling in during my teenage years. I never really came back to soaps after I finished high school, not until Otalia sucked me back into Guiding Light and now with Crystal Chappell on DOOL I've been trying to get back into that one (with mixed results I'll admit) I forgot to mention that at one time, I watched Edge of Night as well. God, I was such a little soap geek. But they made the world so much bigger than the narrow little space in which I lived. Soaps and books were the only things that made life tolerable for a lot of years ( ... )
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(The comment has been removed)
It is like losing an old friend. To me, that's what soaps are about - friendship, with both the characters and with other viewers. It's not just watching the show - it's the connected experience of talking about it with other people and speculating and sharing experience.I'm so glad you had that with your mom - my mom hated soaps, so I never got to share that with her.
A friend once told me that she had a really challenging relationship with a relative, and then she found out they both watched the same soap - and finally they had a common ground place to talk and share experience. It makes me sad that that generational, legacy experience is going away, and that your old friends at OLTL won't be there for you any more.
And I'm afraid I missed Eternia, though I did semi keep track of what was going on via Soap Opera Digest. That was some weird shit, man. I'm sure sooner or later I'll track it down on YouTube. Thank GOD for YouTube!
Reply
Anyone who reads my writing can see the influence pretty quick - there's a reason I've recently been dubbed Count Rugen, and it's not because of my looks. (God, I hope it's not because of my looks.)
Okay, I cracked up laughing here because of the reference, not your appearance.
The format might be the web, or it might be on different TV networks, or it might even be in serialized novels. (Not that I know anyone who's planning on embarking on that last venture. Really.)
Yeah, uh huh. Sure. I believe that. :D
All the best in storytelling.
Reply
I am blessed and cursed with seeing connections everywhere I look. It's an illness.
Anyone who reads my writing can see the influence pretty quick - there's a reason I've recently been dubbed Count Rugen, and it's not because of my looks. (God, I hope it's not because of my looks.)
Okay, I cracked up laughing here because of the reference, not your appearance.
Well thank heaven for that.
The format might be the web, or it might be on different TV networks, or it might even be in serialized novels. (Not that I know anyone who's planning on embarking on that last venture. Really.)
Yeah, uh huh. Sure. I believe that. :D
You've met me, no?
All the best in storytelling.
You too!
Reply
A lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing both this and your own storytelling abilities!
Reply
The greatest stories have always been, to me, the ones that take a very long time to unfold. Soaps, multi-novel series, tv shows. Love me some long form. But then you knew that...
And we were so very, very spoiled by Otalia. It was old school storytelling at its very best.
A lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing both this and your own storytelling abilities!
Thank you! Remember, don't tell my mother. ;)
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