I heard the news about All My Children's cancellation with the same horrid feeling I get when I hear about misfortunes of someone I know. In this case, it is many people I "know" dearly who will be leaving our lives, as my favorite soap opera is eliminated.
Thirty-five years ago, or so, when I moved with my still-relatively-new husband to begin our lives away from my hometown, I had no job, no friends, and no money to spend the day shopping. Voila! Soap operas filled the void. I could literally watch soaps, I figured out one day, from 11:30 AM until 4 PM.............and the time flew because of them. I learned to keep one eye and both ears on the TV while I cleaned, did laundry and cooked.
All My Children soon became my favorite "soap," and I was caught up in the life and loves of Erica Kane, Tad Martin, Palmer, Opal, Adam, Dixie, Haley, Greg and Jenny..........(I actually wrote a letter to the show about the frustration over Greg and Jenny's never-ending engagement).............(That's a secret.)
I "attended" weddings dressed in my best clothing, cried at funerals of characters who had met their demise, laughed aloud more times than I could say at the over-the-top antics of Opal, my all-time favorite character........(she wore her mittens with those little clips on the ends of her sleeves, for God's sake).........she talked with a twang that was more deep South than the map could go, had mile-high red hair, killed a husband in the throngs of passion, and was risque' enough to let a bored young housewife get caught up in her craziness and be diverted from routine.
I even named one of my children after a character, although it was just the NAME I fell in love with............remember Philip Brent? The name Philip "stuck" in my head, and when delivery time came for my first baby, I used that name. (I also borrowed Stephen Foster's first name, for another, lest you think I was addicted to soap operas..........)
When my kids were little, I nursed them during All My Children, then later fed them lunch at 1:00. They could eat while Erica and her latest love interest conversed. In the summers, we would leave for the swim club at 1:30 and I'd leave a small tape player in front of the TV, set for thirty minutes, so I could listen to the rest of the show while I cooked dinner.
These people were "family" to MY family, which had few true blood relatives nearby. We conversed about the characters as if they were just ordinary people we knew well, and sometimes folks would ask "Who is Tad?" or "Where does Erica live, and why haven't we met her?"
My son, Philip, continued this connection by watching AMC when cable TV made the Soap Network available. It took me awhile to figure out how he knew so much about events in our "other family," when we were all working. He was watching in the night! (He always did appreciate the value of "family!")
I confess that I have not watched AMC faithfully for the past decade or so, since I went back to teaching. I defend myself, however, by telling you that on summer break I watched it, hit-or-miss, and was able to pick right up a story-line without any problem. I noticed that Tad got a little grayer, however.................. he was always a heartthrob..............(sigh)
I never felt that I had divorced these characters, though! They were "family," or stand-ins for vacancies, and added volume to our real numbers. I knew their innermost secrets as well as what motivated their actions. If it were only so easy to understand REAL people, huh????
I am not going into mourning over All My Children, but I do feel a pang of "another loss" at its passing. I keep noticing that life seems to be full of "passings," and these get replaced by things that I either do not understand, don't "get," or don't have the technological skills to use.
In my guest bedroom is a blanket with the map of Pine Valley, the setting for All My Children, on it. It was a gift from Philip, his last Christmas. It's blue, pink and yellow, and has "All My Children," and "Pine Valley" written on it..........and shows where Pine Valley exists in relation to the rest of the world. Ironically, it shows Pine Valley as the center of the entire country.............and the rest of us sort of revolve around it. That seems to say it all, doesn't it? Great gift, by the way.
They may do away with All My Children, and take Pine Valley off the soap opera "map, " but there are those of us who will always live there in our hearts, will never forget the joy, tension or agony we experienced as we sat, glued to the set every day at 1:00. The theme music is in our heads on "replay" at our mental recalls.
No, I am not leading a letter-writing campaign to save AMC, as I am sure that the TV Powers That Be have done their financial homework before axing a well-loved old program.
But I WOULD write a letter if there WERE a campaign. I'd sign a petition...........wear a sandwich board........and possibly stand on a street corner waving a sign that reads "SAVE ALL MY CHILDREN!"
I'd do the same for any endangered family member ...............................
copyright: KP Gillenwater
