Reality TV

During my hiatus from society (i.e. a job or regular play dates with fellow military spouses), I admit to falling victim to daytime television at times. I never get trapped in it or lose touch with the reality that I am sitting alone watching reruns of outrageous scenarios of fabricated drama. I guess I turn it on for background noise while I'm cooking or doing laundry. I've never been much for soaps or talk shows; I prefer the brainless and trivial humor of sitcoms. As ridiculous as it sounds, I've considered at times what it would be like to actually have friends like these, although I know people like that couldn't really exist. TV land is the only world in which you can wiggle your nose and turn your husband's boss into a monkey or afford a high rise apartment with a view as a waitress in a cafe. Life would be easier, I think, if things got too rough to handle, you could just add "to be continued..." and walk offset for a week. Characters in these shows never have to worry about going to work when something more interesting is going on and they can travel anywhere at anytime so there is never an episode of homesickness or feelings of loneliness. There is always a friend walking in the door and a perfect punchline to every joke. There just isn't enough time in a 30-minute episode to see Grace worry about how she will pay rent for her downtown office when she hasn't had one design job in the past two seasons or see Jerry deal with relationship issues bigger than his date having "man hands." I think this is one reason I can never get wrapped up in t.v. and commit to watching a show on a weekly basis. I have a hard time relating and not thinking too deeply about the show. Sure, I've had times when I have had "Scrubs fantasies" and difficulty relating to my in laws like you might see on some shows, but unfortunately I can't blink an eye and make things go away (or reappear). I wish my worst problem was that my best friend went to Bloomingdale's with another woman. I wish all I had to do was talk it over a cup of coffee and turn the "applaud now" sign on. I wish I never had a fat day and I could walk out wearing the perfect outfit no matter what the occasion. I'd never have to worry about going to an interview with lipstick on my teeth and the camera would just switch angles if I was having a bad hair day. I wish I had theme music playing to encourage me on my jog or a whole audience say "aww" every time Wayne kissed me on the cheek or, in the very least, go some place where everybody knew my name! I might handle risky situations better if all I had to do was flip to next the page on the script and see that all is well in the world and that this episode was going to end with a good laugh. So, what will the next season bring? Will Wayne and I finally have our dreams come true? Will I be reuniting with a close friend? Or will my show be canceled? I guess we'll just have to stay tuned...