Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Questions, questions: I don’t get it—I can’t explain it

We all have questions, don’t we.  And while some of us study quantum theories, and ponder the very existence of time and space, others (that would be me) tend to dwell on more mundane matters.  Here’s a few recent things that have been bouncing around in my noggin lately.

1. “It’s an old tv show, why couldn’t I just let it go?”

A couple weeks ago I was watching CBS Mornings, and they were discussing the one year anniversary of Betty White’s passing (who died December 31, 2021).  Gayle King mentioned that her death was especially hard on fans of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as Betty was the last surviving cast member.

The others nodded their heads in agreement—after all, everyone knows that Oprah Winfrey is Gayle’s best friend, and Oprah is Mary’s biggest fan.  But all I could think was “Wrong, Gayle—wrong.”   I consider myself one of MTM’s No.1 fans too, but who am I?  Best to let it go.

But for some reason, I couldn’t—and finally looked up the show’s contact email, and sent them this collage:

John Amos (who played Gordy the Weather Man), Lisa Gerritsen (Phyllis’ daughter Bess) & Joyce Bulifant (Murray Slaughter’s wife Marie) were all recurring characters, and are alive & well.  And I let them know.

I received a response the same day, around 3 hours later:  “Thank you Douglas, we’ll pass this along.”   To whom?  I’m sure I’m not the only crackpot fan who wrote and let them know, but at least I got it off my chest.

2. “Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the grayest of them all?”

At the barbershop, my hair looks mostly white.  At the drugstore, my hair looks grandma white.  Outside, my hair looks snow white.

But in my bathroom—it looks more dark than white!  Are my eyes deceiving me?  How do I make it look this dark all the time?  Also, I wish I knew how to get rid of those brown circles under my eyes… I’m a lousy sleeper.

3. Why can’t I find the time (or desire) to read a good book or three?

This is the God’s honest truth: for as long as I can remember, I’ve read 3 books a month, easy.  (When I was in high school, I read so much I even won an award from our town’s library—I’m going to show you in an upcoming blog!) 

But since retiring, it’s been a real effort.  Why is that?  Here’s 3 books I’ve gotten in the last year.  My three favorite subjects—Mars, Stephen King & Robert Kennedy.  Yet I’ve barely gotten the first couple chapters read in Chris Matthew’s book, and have yet to crack open the first two.

4. And finally, why can’t I toss out this letter from the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

How did these people find me?  The last thing I want is a Bible study in my home (or one anywhere, for that matter).  But I can’t help but wonder, when is the last time I’ve received a handwritten letter from a girl?   The notebook paper, the faint smell of ballpoint ink… boy does this take me back.

There’s just something warm & fuzzy about getting a real letter, even if it is from someone that wants to turn you into a Jehovah’s drone who doesn’t believe in celebrating birthdays or holidays. 

Thank you Lisa, wherever you are.  Nerd smile

39 comments:

  1. Questions, no answers. I used to read several books a month and now there is an growing pile next to my bed and one next to my sofa. And why if I don't read them do I keep buying them. :-)

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    1. Thanks Ceilia, it's nice to know I'm not alone! :^)

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  2. I think it's probably the lighting that changes the color of your hair! Fluorescents are harsh and your bathroom lights aren't? I would have sent the information too because it would have gnawed at me if I didn't! I'm reading less than I used to--just my Book Club book and then one other if I'm lucky.

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    1. Thank you Margaret, I always appreciate your feedback--and you're right, my bathroom lights are pretty soft--like my head, apparently ;^)

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  3. My hair is almost all white ... except in the bathroom when it's wet. I guess I should wet my hair several times a day!

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    1. Tom I think you're on to something--I just noticed mine isn't quite so white after I add a dab of Brylcreem. Whatever it takes :^)

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  4. Hi Doug, I am glad you wrote CBS Mornings and corrected them about not all the cast members of MTM are dead. You would think they would have investigated that before making such a statement.
    I stopped colouring my hair two years ago. Just tired of the chemicals and stink of doing it. I thought I would be snow white as my Mum greyed very early and I assumed I would be the same. I’m not but I am definitely salt and pepper!
    My book reading has slowed down too. I mostly read before going to sleep but find I conk out after ten minutes or so now. Getting old I guess.😳
    We have Jehovah Witnesses coming to the door a couple times a year. Their church (?) is only a few miles away so we are easy targets. As soon as I read “ the faint smell of ballpoint ink” I could swear I smell it too!
    Take care Doug.❤️

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    1. Robin... you are a dear friend. I enjoyed this comment so much, you always make me feel normal. Thank you. 🙂👍♥️♥️

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  5. I think the hair thing is funny (not funny ha ha, but funny weird) as mine seems white for the most part, but in some areas a dark strand of two show up. Makes you wonder why? If it's going to turn white, why doesn't it all turn white. Stubborn strands?
    As for reading, I'm afraid I'm a constant reader, and reading anytime I have a moment... even while watching TV sometimes... and definitely every night before bed. If it's a really good story, I can't wait to get back to it.
    And I'm with you about getting a hand-written letter - love it! Don't care if they have lousy hand-writing. They took the time to write me (?) love it ! (although I would wonder about Johavoh's witnesses). That's why I still do hand-written notes to family and friends on occasion... just to let them know I'm thinking about them.

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    1. Thanks Rian--and you've definitely inspired me to start doing more reading. I need to go to bed earlier or try reading more during the day. And I'm glad you appreciated that handwritten letter, haha--it really is special, that's wonderful you still do that with loved ones.

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  6. I’ve occasionally raved at my TV saying something like, “That’s not right”, but I’ve never written a letter. So, good on you.
    You’ve probably noticed that I do write comments on blogs, however.

    My hair and beard both look white in whatever mirror.

    3 books a month? Oh dear, I read at least 3 books a week, and have done for decades.

    I’ve never had an addressed letter from the Jehovah’s, or any other religious group. They probably know what I’d do with it (hint: not keep it).

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    1. Haha! Thanks Music Man! Well, I rave at my tv too about other things and I think you just gave me an idea for a new blog, so thanks Peter :^) Ok ok, I am going to get crackin' on these books--and in the meantime, yes I've noticed you write comments on blogs and they are very much appreciated on mine. :^)

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  7. Good for you, Doug, in providing the fact checking service re the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Reading books? Used to read them much more frequently before internet choices came along. Last summer, I received almost the same letter, handwritten, by a JW member. It took a speedy trip into the recycle bin.

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    1. Thanks so much Florence, to be honest I worried I shouldn't have shared that "fact finding mission" about Mary on here--your feedback is (always) appreciated! As for the JW letter, haha--well, I think you made the smart move I find sentimental things in the strangest places--I still have it :^)

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  8. Ok, you're certainly being puzzled this week. I like to watch "In the Heat of the Night", then "The Waltons" on "Me TV" each morning. I'm not sure who is still alive on those, but will google no my cell if I've watching and wondering. Betty White's books are fun to read. On the opposite of the hair spectrum, I get my colored every 3 months. I'd swear it is the shade and darkness I like at the beauty shop, then it would be too light in my bathroom mirror. Yep. Try reading your real book when going to sleep; it might help you sleep after you drop it in the floor. Put the letter in a file folder marked "Letters." I've added to such a file for a jillion years. A couple of times I've gone through it and trashed some, or given some away: I had a letter from my sister-in-law before she married my brother. They divorced and she's gone now, but her oldest daughter loved getting the letter written to the 12 year-old me. The important love letters are in a special spot though. Much nicer than emails of today. Linda in Kansas

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    1. Linda I've never seen "In the Heat of the NIght" tv series but have been meaning to, I heard it was good. As for the Waltons, you are speaking to my heart I LOVE that show, seen every episode 100 times. And honestly, I've hurt myself umpteen times taking books to bed--I always drop them on my face! And that is cool about your letters file, I've kept handwritten cards from my mom and grandma, they mean a lot to me. Thanks for your feedback here Linda, I always enjoy your responses on my blog & others :)

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    2. Guess you should get the paperback versions of books! LOL Linda in Kansas

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  9. I have a drawer full of mementos, and many of them are handwritten letters from days gone by, and people on the other side of the grass. I love your posts, and I haven't watched any old shows on TV for so long, now I'm wondering why. Just this morning, though, I watched the latest episode of 1923 and now I cannot wait for the upcoming one! Sheesh, I guess they have my number. Now back to my book on quantum physics. :-)

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    1. DJan you always make me smile, thank you--I worried you might think I was making light of your quantum reading (and I would never do that, it soars above my head but I respect you a lot for it). I'm surprised what you wrote here about "1923", you need to do more tv show reviews--I was wondering if that was any good, I am definitely checking that out now. Will you be watching Picard in a week or so? Anyway, thanks again. :^)

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  10. I guess the JW have found another way to reach people. I must say they take it seriously. I worked for many years with a lady that I later found out was one. She never mentioned it at work. I like Linda’s idea of keeping letters. I have some my mother wrote to me when I moved to a different state just before she died. I love to see her handwriting, and in one she sent me a phone bill with all my little 20 cent calls circled, so I could pay them. And I did. 😊. Joyce

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    1. Joyce, thank you so much for sharing--very interesting you worked for a JW, and very sweet you kept your mom's writings. I did too, it means a lot to me. And that is too funny with the phone bill and the 20 cent calls, haha. I love it. :)

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  11. You know, we've gotten a couple of those letters. I have no trouble tossing them. Esp. after tonight's reports of five more of them involved in a ring that sexually abused children.

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    1. Oh Debby, are you serious? I know so little about them, other than they used to rent the downstairs party room in my apt building twice a month (which is now an exercise room). I admit I'm a sucker for handwritten letters :(

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  12. My youngest grandson was born on Christmas Eve. (He's 21 this year, BTW.) My daughter told him if he ever complained about it, she's make sure he was raised a JW.




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    1. Haha! Joanne, that's a good threat as he'd lose his birthday -and- Christmas! But seriously, I think he has the right to grumble a little, at least :^)

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  13. Good on you for writing to the network. I'm sure they'l never correct their error, despite the number of letters/e-mails they receive about their error. Too many people assume talk show and television announcers know anything. I must admit, I don't have a lot of memories of the MTM show, though I did enjoy the show.
    Reading - I'm like you, I've been reading less and less since I retired. I like to think it is because I have other interests but part of the problem is my darned cellphone. Instead of picking up a book before bed, I have a tendency to watch videos on my phone. A bad habit, and one I need to conscientiously break.
    I enjoy a real letter too, never received one from an JW, but I do have the last letter my mother ever sent me. Nothing earth shattering in the letter but I'll treasure it forever.

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    1. Maebeme, this was really nice on your part, thank you. To be honest, I own all the Mary shows on DVD, have seen every episode 100 times. I appreciate your honesty about the reading too, you know what? I am guilty of the same--not on my phone, but youtube videos on my tablet. It's easier than reading, isn't it. I need to break that habit. And that was very sweet to read about your mother's last letter. I kept my mom's last letter too, in fact I believe its posted on one of my earlier blogs.

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  14. Have newscasters done away with fact checking? Well, that will add to the "fake news" quotient. Everyone I know saves special letters. Some even have a special file or box for the letters. I seem to read them once and throw them away. Depending on the lighting, hair color changes. I'm okay with it as long as it is not purple, orange or green. Aging brings many surprises, wouldn't you agree?

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    1. Haha! Thank you Susan, well I didn't mean to be so persnickety but if I had been one of those 3 remaining cast members I'd want to be remembered. And you are exactly right about the hair coloring--I just spent most of my life with it being dark brown in all light, I suppose. Yes I would certainly agree aging brings many surprises! :^)

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  15. I wonder why I am unable to read as much as I used to, but then I remember the hours spent on the computer. I no longer read Stephen King, I've outgrown him, although I still have two of his books: Firestarter and The Talisman. That letter would have been in my bin the first day. My hair looks darker in my bathroom mirror too, I think it's the lighting.

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    1. Thanks River, and you make a good point about the computer. I sure spend a lot of time on here reading too. :^) You're absoliutely right about the lighting of course, and wow no love for the JW to be found!

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  16. All good questions. I can identify with the book thing. I rarely read books, but when I am motivated to read one, then I sit and read like the dickens. I was so enthralled by Prince Harry's memoir I couldn't put it down. Go figure.

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    1. Thanks Gigi. I know just what you mean. Last year when Arkansas Patti wrote about Ron Howard's autobiography I rushed right out and got my own copy, read it in a few days. 🙂

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  17. Well, you know I cheered your correction on surviving MTM Show cast members - you are a worthy custodian of our classic television heritage. I can't help you with the hair color dilemma, beyond saying at least you still have hair (mine started falling out in college). As for books - I still read a lot...I just don't remember anything I've read five minutes later.

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    1. Thank you David, as I know you're the guru of classic TV I am honored sir! I guess I am lucky to have some hair but it isn't what it used to be, and like you my short-term memory isn't what it used to be either. ☺️

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  18. I avoid all that by simply not watching those morning news shows!

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    1. I don't usually watch them either, I leave it on as background noise when I'm folding laundry or making my bed--I should listen to the radio then instead :^)

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  19. I watched the Mary Tyler Moore show all the time and totally didn't know John Amos was on it. I just remember him being on Good Times. I have Fairy Tale on my Kindle and haven't read it yet. I was saving it and then forgot I had it. OK, I need to read it, but I only read to put me to sleep and that might not do it.

    Your hair is really dark. My hair looks darker from behind, but the front is definitely grayish white. Ah well...

    Hey, we got one of those letters too. Too amazing! Can you imagine how much time it takes to write one of those? I tossed ours also, but wow! Do you think anybody reads those letters and decides to take them up on it? I wonder. It must work since they're doing it in Hawaii too.

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