As the World Turns

 

My mother watched "As the World Turns" pretty much every day during the time I was growing up.  

I think a lot of mothers during my era did the same after they had moved on from Ma Perkins on the radio to the new world of television soap operas.

As the world kept turning, I got hooked on the daily saga of Bob and Lisa and all their clan. 

My mother also smoked when I was growing up, as did my dad. 

The world turned, and I went on to the University of Idaho along with dozens of other classmates. 

It appeared that some things may have been the same in a lot of other households where my contemporaries grew up. 

Twasn't long before many of us were smoking and taking our cigarettes to the TV room---probably when many of us were supposed to be going to an early afternoon class---and we watched "As the World Turns" every single day.  

Many puffed on cigarettes while watching so you can imagine ribbons of bluish gray smoke wafting through that room while Bob and Lisa's world turned. We won't even talk about our lungs. 

Crazy, yes, but those were the times many many earthly revolutions ago. 

Later, as a full-fledged adult, I shared an addiction to "All My Children" with several other teaching colleagues.  Some of us would spend part of our noon hours watching Tad and Jenny.

I always had enough time during my lunch hour to drive home, grab a bite to eat and watch several minutes of the series.  I had to drive considerably farther to watch the soap than my two friends who lived just a few blocks from the school. 

Another friend had a TV near her desk, so she never left her classroom during lunch hour.  She simply ate and watched her soap. 

For those concerned about our lungs, I recall no hints of cigarette smoking during that particular soap opera addiction.   

By that time, many of us had learned our lesson about the dangers of cigarettes. 

I don't really know what ever happened to Bob and Lisa or Tad and Jenny, but I know they had lots of cheerleaders on the other side of the tube during their respective, often stormy relationships. 

Seems now, as the world turns, we've got more than enough soap opera material, or is it "Twilight Zone" stuff to observe.  

And, in so doing, many of us may even get frustrated enough to go light up a cigarette. 

Please, no! Our lungs must be strong enough for screaming during these times.

Fortunately, for those of us who live in North Idaho, in the midst of trying to stay on top of all the local, national and world turmoil, where today snow is falling and so is the stock market, we do have the diversion of beautiful days in a beautiful place. 

Thank God for our beautiful North Idaho. Who needs all the world's money when we can enjoy this for free!!!

Yesterday turned out to be one of those "off-the-charts" gorgileous days. 

Bill and I found our elixir at Riley Creek Campground with the dogs. 

For a time, as we walked through the beautiful recreational area along the Pend Oreille River, we had the place to ourselves. 

Only after we had walked away from the jaw-dropping views of eagles soaring overhead or quacking ducks  swimming off away from shore or stunning blue skies adorned by white billowy clouds and a brilliant sun enhancing a landscape of millions of tiny sparkling diamonds------that's when the next two humans with two dogs showed up. 

So, in essence, Bill and I simply passed the beauty baton to the other couple and their best friends to enjoy the glorious views we had just experienced. 

It was a very invigorating experience at Riley Creek. 

Today looks as if it could be a winter postcard day.  About four inches of white powder fell overnight. 

Bet the skiers will be in Heaven up there at Schweitzer.  

Here at the Lovestead, we'll shovel and plow and maybe even blow some snow and go find another gorgeous place to behold. 

Happy Monday.