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Who Turned Out the Light?

Since I was a wee girl of about 6, there has been one place I could go to lose myself for a bit. This place has always been there for me...throughout my tweens, teens, twenties, thirties and now my early forties. If I'm sick or just needing a short escape, I can take a trip there and catch up with old friends. Maybe you have visited there too....it's Springfield, USA...home of the Bauers, Spauldings, and the Lewis families...the home of Guiding Light.My Grandma got me hooked on GL. (She also started my coffee drinking habit at an early age too...hee hee...shh...don't tell my mom...) She would watch it every afternoon. She actually started enjoying GL when it was still a radio program! That was 72 years ago!

A few months ago, my mom told me that she heard that Guiding Light had been cancelled. (I don't know how she knew this...she is an ABC soap watcher...) I brushed her off, saying that was silly...GL was the longest running soap in history...there was NO way it was cancelled. Reva Shane was too popular....no soap exec in their right mind would take Reva Shane away from her fans. I mean, Josh and Reva still had so much "stuff" to work out! Well, guess what? Some dumb soap exec did just that!


As of this Friday, Guiding Light will air it's final episode. I am actually pretty sad about that. Guiding Light was one of the ways I bonded with my Grandmother (who is now enjoying her soap watching in a better place.) Even when we lived in different parts of the country, we would still chatter on about the "goings on" in Springfield, USA. It also was my place to escape during both of my pregnancies. I would use GL time to help me relax (and it was also the only hour during the day throughout the entire 9 months I didn't puke...that includes both pregnancies.) I would watch GL to help me survive break-ups, relieve boredom or just make me feel connected to my Grandma when I was missing her.

Thank you, Guiding Light for being a valued part of my life. I will miss you.

(slinking off to cry in a corner now...)

xoxo


Comments

Caitlin said…
So sad! My grandma has also listened to/watched GL since it was on the radio! She is going to be heartbroken. :(
Kristina P. said…
That's funny because I used to watch General Hospital with my grandma. I'm sorru for your loss.
Randi Troxell said…
though i've never really been any sort of soap opera fan... it IS actually sad that it's going off air now.. especially after all these years...
Rebecka said…
Some of my earliest and happiest childhood memories was playing in the middle of the livingroom floor with my cousin while my mom and her sister watched "The Edge of Night". That was their soap. Every weekday afternoon. They'd talk and laugh and drink coffee and I felt so safe and happy... even when what's her name the police chief's wife got kidnapped.
I was so sad when it was canceled years ago. And now your 'stories' will be gone too.
Sometimes change just stinks.
Jillene said…
I got hooked on Days of Our Lives. I still watch it now and again. Sorry about the loss of your GL. Maybe you should take up Days!!
Polka Dot Moon said…
I never watched this one, but heard lots of soaps are going through tough times! Some of the "stars" are being used less or written out to save money! More women are having to go back to work.

Sunday morning they did a piece on GL. And had a Grandmother that had watched it for 72 years! She was trying to figure out what she was going to do with her "free" hour now :)

{I think I heard that they are putting a "game show" in it's place! Just what we need!}

Denise
Kimberly said…
I can remember watching all my life as well. It's like a part of me will be missing. Gonna find it sad and odd all at the same time. You just sorta expect it to be on everyday, ya know....
Alexis AKA MOM said…
I'm not a big soap watcher but I know my friend loves this one. How sad. Sorry girlie :)
Unknown said…
my husband is devestated that GL is ending...yes I said my husband lol...he watched this show with his grandma when he was a lil boy into his teens and early adulthood and now as a grown man he has discovered where he can watch it online at work...
I'm so sorry you lost your light!!
My Grandma got me hooked on Days. She watched many others, but I couldn't get into them. Maybe you'll find a new show?
Liz Mays said…
I just saw a clip on 60 Minutes (I think) about that. I haven't watched soap operas in at least 20 years. I got hooked on talk shows and never went back. But, I'm sorry for your sake!
Tracy said…
Never was a GL gal... more of an All My Children...
Sorry for your loss!

I'm making my way slowly but surely back to bloggyland. I've missed you Momma bee!
Annie said…
I haven't watched a soap in about twenty years, but I remember watching GL with my Beloved in the early years of our marriage. Funny that!
LadyStyx said…
Never was much for the afternoon soaps... but that was an institution for goodness sakes!!! Idiot y-chromosomes............
Devri said…
oh my word, too funny, not that is it cancelled, but your grandmother..

ok ok sorry I am MIA... Won't happen again. hugs
Wow! I never watched, but I'm genuinely surprised.
Tom said…
Aside from seeing a few episodes of General Hospital with my sisters when I was younger, I haven't seen many soap operas. I take that back. 24 is my favorite soap. Ignore the guns, the torture, and the spying, at it's core it is just a soap opera for boys.
Remember Another World?

I know exactly how you feel, that is how I felt with Another World. I watched it as a young girl, and continued until it went off the air.
i live in a cave bc i just saw this yesterday...sad, but well, i guess there's enough drama on tv these days. sad.
Jess said…
Awe, that is sad!
theUngourmet said…
Well that's too bad! I would be devastated if Y&R was ever cancelled! Okay, maybe not devastated, but pretty darn sad!
Grand Pooba said…
I am so sorry for your loss!
The Mrs. said…
I'm so sorry. I felt like that when Friends ended!
I used to watch GL a long time ago - but have not seen it for years - I never expected it to stop though!! I love Reva the actress I have always admired her. One of my favorite Designing Women episodes had her in it - Was called "The Rowdy Girls" LOVED it!!
Ash said…
The Doctors (watched with my mom after kindergarten - great Ma)

Santa Barbara

Another World

I'm surprised GL is going off the air - I never watched it. Seems to be a prerequisite for a soap to get cancelled.

So sorry for your loss :-)
Mammatalk said…
Bummer. I remember when Another World when off the air. I felt like I lost real friendships.

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