This is another post in an occasional series from my dear Aunt Doris, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 94.
Aunt Doris (circa the good ol’ days)
Being 92 and never really fully recovered from my stroke, I had to give up my driver’s license, which was the biggest blow of all.
Before then, I’d always been a free spirit — I’d jump into my red Corolla, Miss Ruby, and go; wherever and whenever I pleased. No more.
Now, I stay home. I still have Miss Ruby to get around in — but she’s my red walker!
Now, the television is my constant companion and, like everything else, it has its pros and cons.
I like “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” and, in spite of my stroke, I can still answer most of the questions — or should I say “question the answers!”
I never get tired of watching reruns of “Frasier.” That show had great writing and a perfect cast. I also loved the captions before a scene; very clever. Frasier and Niles may have been pretentious twits, but I love ’em.
I’m not keen on those Jerry Springer-like reality shows where the audience seems as obnoxious as the participants on stage.
I love the English shows on PBS; “Downtown Abbey” is brilliant! And “Doc Martin” is a favorite of my whole family.
As for other channels I watch fairly regularly: I like Animal Planet, Discovery, History, Nat Geo, and Travel because you can learn something new everyday.
Then there are the commercials. Some of them are pretty good, like the Suburu commercial where the worried Dad is standing at the school bus stop with his daughter on her first day of school. He ends up following her in his car and sees her laughing. The look of relief on his face is priceless!
There’s the one where a 20-year-old girl with porcelain skin tells you how to get rid of wrinkles and eye bags — come on! Now show me a 90-year-old lady doing that and I’ll go out and buy a gallon of the stuff!
Awhile back I was glued to the telly for the Queen’s Jubilee, William and Kate’s wedding, and the Summer Olympics — all taking place in my home town, London. “Keep calm, carry on.”
I love watching sports too, especially when my San Diego Padres play baseball or any English team is playing soccer. I can yell at the umpires and refs like the best of them.
Well, I can see it’s almost time for “Wheel of Fortune,” so until next time …
Remotely yours (I couldn’t resist!),
Aunt Doris
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(This article was originally published on 17 April 2013.)
Aunt Doris,
You seem to have forgotten about shows on TV Land and the newly minted MeTV. On those two channels, the advertisements are horrible, always targeting the seniors or the most seniors among us.
I remember taking my mother’s car away from her when she was 86 years old. She was getting into accidents and somehow entered the freeway via the exit in the wrong direction. Luckily, she never was hurt, but pretty scary since she has never been on the freeway.It was tough, but she got used to it. She lived to just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday.
I’m just hoping to make it to 50, Larry!
I LUV Aunt Doris 😀
I guess she’s not interested in Keeping up with the Kardashians?
It’s a rare sunny day in London today, Doris — just about the first of the year!
I plan on taking a walk in Kew Gardens later. But I don’t have a car, so will be getting the tube.
One step ahead of you! 😉
Keep on writing.
What a pleasure it is to this ol’ boy to read these recollections from a kindred spirit!
I agree, Dave! My Aunt Doris was a special lady.
Len, did your Aunt Doris like “Are You Being Served?”?
I liked that she used “twit”. I have used daft twit, pretentious twit, and some others.
She was from England, so I think that had a little something to do with it. I remember Aunt Doris using the word “twit” fairly regularly.