When I asked Grandma what she likes about watching her favorite show, a soap opera called The Young and the Restless, she told me, "It has a lot of problems but it makes me feel thankful that I don't have them." I remember hearing the theme song and seeing the familiar characters on her small soup-pot-sized, barely-colored, way-before-HDTV television set that sat rooted on the edge of her kitchen countertop as she scooted around accomplishing her daily tasks in her Ohio home. That was the beginning of her time as a Y&R fan. Now things have changed. Now Grandma can record her favorite show and watch it when it is convenient (I caught her watching it on a Saturday when the show is not broadcast on TV). Now Grandma can watch her favorite show on a flat-screen, HDTV big enough to rival the size of a baby elephant. Now Grandma can pause her favorite show if the phone rings or the dog needs to be let out. Now Grandma resides in Minnesota. But a few things have not changed, like the time and channel that the show comes on, the characters who make up the backbone of the show, the amount of problems that the characters encounter, and Grandma's devotion to the show. And also Grandma's gratitude - not just that she doesn't have the problems but for all the sweetnesses and comforts of life and family.
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This is fantastic! I love that you interviewed your Grandma and that she was watching "The Young and the Restless" while you were taping. It was very nostalgic for me because I, too, have soap opera related memories of my grandma. I remember prancing around the hideously decorated living room (brown floral couches and mustard colored swivel recliners, need I say more?) and seeing the famous hourglass of "Days of Our Lives" taking up the console T.V. screen. Good times. One of the best things about soap operas is their timeless, neverending storylines. Just look at how this television show has affected several generations! It also speaks to the notion that one need not directly engage with a specific media for it to affect them. Your grandma watching the show affected you as a child. Very cool.
I found this post great since I, too, have been a long time fan of The Young and the Restless. I can't remember the exact time I started watching it, but what is more interesting is that I can remember my Great Grandma Lucca loving it as well. I remember my Grandma Lucca sitting in her rocking chair, knitting some mittens, and drinking Coca-Cola (in the glass bottle) while she watched Y&R. God forbid you should interrupt her during this time because she would yell at you in Italian! The story lines are timeless, but the plot makes you truly believe in the importance and need for family.
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