Publisher’s Points to Ponder: Remember When

The week before last, I wrote about minimalism in the PTP column. This week, I realized most of the difficulty with my transition to a minimalistic lifestyle involves minimalizing entertainment. I thought about simpler times when life was less colorful with fewer choices, especially in the entertainment arena. We could choose to ride bicycles up and down the rolling hills, watch a movie at the one-movie theater on front street or take a stroll around the block if we could make it back home before the street lights turned on. In 2019, we are faced with deciding which of the 300 channels we should watch on television or which one of the 10,000 movies we should stream for two hours only to discover the film was not substantive.

Other forms of entertainment in my small hometown, Natchitoches, Louisiana, included reading, radio and television. My mother always encouraged us to read for enjoyment instead of listening to the radio or watching TV. Although I enjoyed hiding between the pages of a good book, often I chose to insert myself into one of the television families that reminded me of my family occasionally.

Opting to set aside Michael Ende’s “The Neverending Story” for the never-ending laughs derived from sitcoms, allowed me to find common ground with classmates who shared my love for shows like “The Brady Bunch,” “All in the Family” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” Despite the differences with our skin color and our cultural points of reference, we found commonality in the storylines about dating and sibling rivalry. “The Little Rascals” taught me the value of friendship. “The Jeffersons” made me believe in the possibility of moving on up. “Charlie’s Angels” ushered me into understanding that girls can accomplish the same things as boys and in many cases, surpass their abilities.

Pause for a moment to remember when life was simpler. When families dealt with less complex issues—at least as portrayed on television. Remember when there was a respectful balance of authority between parents and children. Remember when authoritative figures used a measure of comedy to address crises. Remember when family and friends surrounded dinner tables. Remember when life was simple, not only for the television characters but also for television watchers.

Visit our Facebook page: www/Facebook.com/OlneyEnterprise and share some of your favorite television shows or memories when life was simple for you.