Turn that on

TV shows make memories sometimes. My memories come from very few shows since television was not a big part of our lives growing up in suburban New York in the 50s and 60s. My real first memory of tv was the coverage of JFK's funeral in 1963. We had no school and my family gathered in the "playroom" to see the coverage as it happened. I distinctly remember my mother's reaction to John-John's salute to his father. She gasped and cried more. We were all silent. It is a clear and hard memory.

I remember lots of significant broadcasts that defined my youth like the show Dark Shadows that Lois HAD to watch after school, or The Smothers Brothers show and it's irreverence to so much, Laugh-In was a favorite of mine, too. I clearly remember the landing on the moon and the news coverage of the Vietnam War. I also remember the body counts each night and the anger I had towards the whole thing and arguing with my father about the righteousness of that war. I remember the Thanksgiving Day parades that we had on as we got ready for our family holiday celebrations and the stupid movie we had to watch every year in Brooklyn , Babes in Toyland, which I believe is my least favorite movie of all time.

My grandmother was a creature of habit and would get all her housework done by late morning and then watch 2 shows. She exercised all the time with Jack Lalanne, and was religious about watching The Mike Douglas Show every afternoon. This talk/variety show kept her in touch with so many things like current events, celebrities and music.

Now here is the thing about Jack Lalanne....I thought he was about 75 years old when my grandmother worked out with him all those decades ago. I actually could not believe he was still alive the first time I saw him juicing away on tv a few years ago. Holy cow!! he is now 95 years old and still out there!! If you look at pictures of him from about 1965 or so (when I recall watching him) he looks amazing; muscular, slim and handsome in his blue body suit. He had famous sayings that still would work today like, "Your waistline is your lifeline" or "Don't exceed the feed limit". He was witty and smart and well, let's face it, he knows what works in fitness if he is still kicking now.

Our tv sets can make mush of our brains or can inspire and teach us. We can learn to cook, watch world events, marvel at the wonders of nature and sing songs along with the newest star. We can also realize that somethings never change; like women wanting to stay in shape while watching a good looking man work out.