Have you noticed?

Have you noticed, of late, the resurgence of television shows we grew up on - by "we" I mean the 40 - 50's but feel like 20 - 30's.  Today I saw a commercial for a new channel which airs shows like, The Waltons, Dr. Quinn, Cosby Show, Little House on The Prairie.  I thought it was interesting.  You can catch reruns of Golden Girls almost any time of the day or night.  Who's the Boss is often on.  Of course there are the SVU marathons, Criminal Mind marathons, etc.  Violence on television is everywhere - yet, I see a few more shows from the past and some new shows which bring family into the spotlight - the families look different, at least they are families.  Families do look different today, television should be reflective of that.  The Walton's was on the other day - I watched it, what a hoot.  How simple it all seemed.  That is what we are looking for, I think - I think we want simpler lives; empty that backpack (can't remember what movie that is from) Of late I have felt a tug to go home; even though Malone has changed it is still home and it still has much of its small town charm, comfort, security - I don't know - I guess, you know, people know you and they like you anyway.  Or maybe they don't but that gives the rest of us something to talk about :) Some days, life is heavy - and it is not big stuff.  Just working, shopping for groceries, kids have a game, recital, bible school, dinner needs to be cooked and reheated three times, a load of laundry - and then it is 9:00, your exhausted but you don't want to go to bed because then you haven't had any time to relax - so you stay up a little later than usual only to be tired the next day and realize you are going to do it all over again.  Throw a dead battery, flat tire, sick child, cranky boss - throw in any wrench and the day is really heavy.  So, I reckon the resurgence of some of these television shows is smart marketing, but marketing is about supply and demand - so there must be some people somewhere who looked around and decided we need to remember some of the simple things.  Family, faith, friends - This is what life comes down to.  This is what we yearn for, and this is what we work for.  Yet somehow we get to working so hard we forgot what we were working for - we thought it was the mortgage, the car payment, the vacation in Hawaii (OK, I want that one), the promotion; Then something, an event, a moment, a glimpse in our eye or a butterfly in our stomach, our stirring in our soul - reminds us - No matter how much we accumulate, stuff has no value - there is no joy in Hawaii if Shari was not there to see - It is family, faith, friends - July 7th I am heading home.  Spend the summer there - Ah, the joy of teaching! Counting the days.  Back among my family & friends, I carry my faith with me everywhere.  Television executives want to make money.  That's cool.  It was nice to hear "Goodnight John Boy."