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TV Guide Issue February 26th - March 3rd 1972

 

"You know what? Youve got spunk... I hate spunk!"

Lou Grant ( Ed Asner )

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Lets spend a little time, distracting from the awful day yesterday. I don't want to rant about the new developments in all the breaking news stories, like Bari Weiss over at CBS News, will be shuttering their radio news division. That was infuriating, for more than one reason. It's all political. Broadcast news, and journalism in general, is being systematically dismantled, and that keeps me up nights, but I want and need, some rest for a day or two. You can only lose so much sleep before you body begins to fight back. So, I will hand it all over to history. It's okay to lean on history, as long as we don't forget what we let go of. Americans have engaged in a good bit of political, societal, and cultural amnesia in recent years, so as you might imagine, I don't want to become one of those people.

 Instead of forgetting, I merely take respites, by climbing into an era where I felt safe. Were I could still imagine what my future would be, while planning for it with realistic goals. When I was a little girl, my love for the Mary Tyler Moore show helped me imagine my future self. Everything from Mary's wardrobe, to her bright attitude, were what most people aspire to be, so I still revisit the show when I get stressed out, just for the memories of all the plans I made. And, to be honest, to recheck my own attitudes. Back then, it was encouraged to treat others like you want to be treated, now it feels like that sentiment we grew up with, was nothing more than a unrealistic plot point.  So this post is all about Mary, and her friends, and how when things went wiggy, she set the example for reasonable solution was always available.

WJM News, from a time when things were also awful but not this awful. Can you imagine Ted Baxter delivering any of the news from this past week?

This is a really great YouTube account that you can see into the homes and apartments of your favorite TV shows. 

Marina Coates - Mockingbird Lane

Season 1 Episode 1

"Love Is All Around"

Season 5 Episode 22

"You Can't Lose 'Em All"

Sonny Curtis

"Love Is All Around"

Joan Jett And The Blackhearts

"Love Is All Around"

We can face these times, right?

Love Was All Around

I don't have a lot of really good memories from my childhood. It was a difficult time, but I don't dwell on the painful times too much anymore, instead I think about the moments here and there that brought me the most comfort in those painful turbulent times. I did a lot of reading as a child, I almost always had a book either in my hand, or close by, and when there wasn't a book by my side, there was a newspaper. I loved reading, to make sense of the world around me. I also watched TV, especially after my brother left for Viet Nam. I wanted to know why he was gone, why he left me, and if he would be coming back.

As you might guess, I learned to grasp the world around me a little earlier than most kids, and when other kids didn't want to discuss Watergate... lol... I would feel a bit out of place. I always loved TV and I wasn't so single minded about the world that I only watched the news and 60 Minutes, I watched sitcoms, because I also learned at a young age that humor was another great escape from the sadness!

I watched the Monkees, and I had a mad crush on Micky Dolenz. I loved Star Trek, "Space, the final frontier" and who didn't want Rob and Laura Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show) for the their parents? I missed that show when it went off the air, but was thrilled to death when Mary Tyler Moore came back to TV in her own show, called, of course, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. From the first episode, I was hooked. Mary Richards was my big sister, and I loved watching along with my real sister, as we tuned in each week to see what was in Mary's closet. Mary had a classic style that could still be pulled off to this day!

I loved every season of the show's seven year run, but my favorite episode came right out the gate, in season one. It was season one, episode three... "Bess Is Your Daughter Now." It was all about Mary bonding with her friend Phyllis's daughter Bess, and the transformation of what had been a strained relationship into what would become a lifelong appreciation for each other. From that episode on, Bess referred to Mary as "Aunt Mary,"and it all came about because Mary took the time to get to know a 10 year old girl,  Bess, and form that friendship. 

I was about Bess's age, and I think I thought of Mary Richards as my TV aunt from then on as well. It impressed me that someone Mary's age would make the effort to not just spend time with Bess, but truly find out about who Bess was. Not everyone has the ability to bond when children, or the patience, at least that had been my experience, and I also had a mother who deeply resented any friendship I attempted to make, including with my peers.  Forming healthy friendships was difficult, so it really impressed me and gave me hope that one day, I might meet someone from the adult world, willing to be my friend, just for the sake of being my friend.

I did. And we discussed politics and world events till we were both sick of it LOL. But we also discussed music and art, and she was a great teacher who was instrumental to bringing me out of my shell. She encouraged my creative side, and she helped me feel less alone. Sometimes I think about that time in my life, and I am glad I had learned the lesson that friendships are sometimes spontaneous things, and sometimes they need time to build, but if you are willing to put yourself out there... Love Is All Around No Need To Fake It. The friendship I made with that teacher continued for years, and I was grateful for it. Always.

Thank you, Aunt Mary!

Side Note... 

The little drawing on my sidebar, is of the poster hanging in Mary's Richard's apartment in seasons 2 through 6.

 ( "Why" By Ben Shahn )

Mood: Quiet

~Me