I found an entry in one of my old diaries that made me stop and laugh. We lived in Lone Pine at the time (1978) and had driven to Gran's, in Fresno, for a weekend visit. Here is part of the entry:
"Watched Gran's color TV. Everything looks so real. I'm almost glad we don't have one- it would be too tempting to watch it."
That's amusing to me for several reasons. First of all, I think I've mentioned before that Gran had the first television in our family. I remember the tiny rounded screen and the knobs on the front. I remember an argument with my dad about watching my favorite western- which she settled by telling me that when I grew up I could turn the knobs. I recall being fascinated by the tubes in the back of the television. If one stopped working Granddad would take it to the store and get a new one. Then the television would spring to life again. I loved going to Gran's to watch television when I was a kid because all we had was a radio. I guess Gran was always the trend-setter, because now I realize she also had a color television before we did!
I like my comment about the color image looking "real". I can just imagine how it would compare with today's high definition images. Funny how our expectations change.
And I didn't want to waste my time with television. When we lived in Lone Pine I was jogging, hiking, riding my bike, playing tennis, writing, baking, taking care of the children, working at church, and volunteering at school. I didn't have time for television. I still don't have time for it, but I make time for it. Sad in a way.
Many of us are watching less television lately because of the strike. That's a good thing. I've been doing more puzzles, genealogy, reading, writing. Of course I did make time to watch Comanche Moon. I loved it...didn't want it to end. Now we are watching Lonesome Dove again. I do love a western! I'll even watch one in black and white.
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