When you get hit, as an adult, with something like RP, you inevitably start to reflect on your past and possible signs that might have been there to indicate something was amiss; both physical and psychic signs. As a child, I was obsessed with Little House on the Prairie. I loved the little schoolhouse and the joy of life’s daily triumphs, but I really got hooked when Mary started going blind. I remember watching as a kid and waiting with bated breath during the week between shows. I needed to know what was going to happen to Mary. Would she need new glasses? Would she have to go to the big city on the train to see the specialist? Would she go blind? I felt somehow connected to her plight and I had no idea why.
Years later, in my late teens and early twenties, I started watching Little House re-runs with my friend Lisa. We would drink cheap wine and smoke cigarettes and watch Mary going blind over and over again. At the time, we both concluded that going blind was definitely preferable to going deaf because a life without being able to listen to music seemed to be pretty much not worth living. And, blind chicks got to have hot blind husbands like Adam (Mary’s husband).
Little did we know I would be facing the reality of going blind just a decade later. Maybe I unconsciously knew that blindness would weave itself into the fabric of my future as it had woven itself into the fabric of my childhood fantasies. Or maybe I just loved the drama.
May 10, 2011 at 12:08 am
Excellent post. Brings back memories of that program. My situation in boarding school meant I only got to watch Little House occcasionally. What I do remember is that it seemed to be from a golden time infused with gentility, community, compassion, and family.
You make me wonder the same thing… what were the signs?
May 10, 2011 at 12:40 pm
It was just all of that; such a lovely show. You gave me an idea for a new post. Thank you R!!!!!
February 3, 2018 at 11:52 am
Interesting connection there.
February 9, 2019 at 8:06 am
When I first started reading your blog I told my wife and daughter about it. We had the same discussion. Which would be worse, losing sight or hearing? My wife doesn’t dwell on those discussions as she’s a bit superstitious. Jess and I agreed that it would be worse to lose sight.
February 10, 2019 at 6:05 am
I think most people share your feeling. The conversation with my friend was so long ago, I should ask her now and see if she still has the same opinion about it. This also makes me reflect on my own opinion. I believe it has remained the same, but this gives me pause.