Little House on the Prairie

Growing up, Monday nights at 8:00 pm would find my mother and I in front of the television preparing to bawl. For the nine years it aired, it was like a ritual before bedtime for us. Almost without fail, 8:55 would find us red-eyed and sniffling. Happy tears mostly, sometimes sad ones.

What was it about Little House on the Prairie that drew me?

Little House in the Big Woods. As an avid reader, I loved that the program was based on books that were based on the real life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I felt like I was getting to see what life was like in the early days of the American west.

The Ingalls. As the only child of divorced parents, I loved seeing a family working. It wasn't perfect, no one was perfect, the siblings argued, the children sometimes made bad decisions, but they all loved deeply, respected one another, and worked hard at their relationships. Personal growth was visible within episodes even to my young eyes.

Walnut Grove. I loved the town. It also wasn't perfect, some people were unkind and cruel (just like real life), but overall, there was a strong sense of belonging and being part of a larger family. People cared for and took care of each other. Love thy neighbor had real meaning.

I loved that there was always a lesson to be learned - by the characters and by the viewer.

I loved the emotional pull and catharsis of each episode. (We really did cry every week.) Even now, occasionally l will happen upon an episode...and still end up in tears.

I rarely watch current television programs, but a friend suggested I might really like This Is Us. My husband and I started watching season one of the six filmed, and my friend was correct. Unfortunately, we could only watch one season.

My husband hates to see me cry.