Sunday, June 2, 2013

All in the family..................


Once upon a time T.V. was a family ritual 
Once supper had been made - and eaten
Once the dishes had been washed and dried
Once homework had been done
and darkness appeared
the drapes were drawn
the lamps were turned on
and
everyone gathered into one room 
Often the kids spread out on the floor laying on their stomachs
and parents sat in their favorite spots

No one argued about what they wanted to watch 
there was one t.v.
We laughed together
cried together
and rooted for teams together 

Thanks Edith
for the laughs
for the wisdom
for the insight
but mostly for the memories
of one particular family gathered around the t.v.
creating memories I sometimes forget about now.

Jean Stapleton
January 1923 - May 2013
RIP




23 comments:

  1. ...now there's a television in every bedroom, so there's no family gathering spot. (I never let my kids have a tv in their rooms, but as they got into high school, they stayed in there on their laptops.)

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  2. Still watch the show today on DVD. Loved her character. What memories!

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  3. That's exactly what my early years were like with my family. And this show was one of my favourites. Still is! This lady played her part well. May she rest in peace.

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  4. This blog post caught my eye! One of my favorite shows (back in the day!) What's happened to "good" television? Great actress..

    leslie

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  5. Oh- How I loved Edith and Archie. They were so refreshing and fun in that day and age. She was a marvelous actress. I suppose she and Carroll O'Connor are yukking it up in Heaven today. Great post, Suzan- xo Diana

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  6. That's much how our TV time was too, with everyone around watching the same show.

    She lived to be 90, I think I saw? That's a good life. :)

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  7. Excellent post Susan! Cheers to a great talent!

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  8. Hi Suzan,
    I remember those days too. We all sat around one TV and watched shows together as a family. No DVR's, no cable only the main channels!!! I love Edith and Archie too. She will be missed. What a great and long life she had.
    Kris

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  9. Great post, Suzan. As the theme song said,truly, "Those were the Days!"

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  10. Sweet tribute, Suzan. My how times have changed - no more sitting together as a family to watch a special show - now everyone does their own thing. Sad really.

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  11. My mom and I used to watch this show together. It was one of our favourites, and still is. That was when TV shows, including comedies, actually had important things to say while they entertained you. Jean Stapleton was an amazing actress, and made Edith so lovable and believable. This is a lovely tribute to her Suzan.

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  12. Oh, she was such a wonderful actress and human being. I loved her show, and remember tyhose wonderful years too...never missed it, wish I could see it again, but I haven't seen reruns of it, as I usually see of I Love Lucy. Our grandgirls don't have TV in their rooms and they also have a schedule for an 1 1/2 hrs. after their HW is done. Our daughters never had one either. Thank you for sharing this great tribute.
    Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  13. I still love this show, I remember watching it when I was young with my family. She was such a talent.

    Cynthia

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  14. Well, I wasn't allowed to watch it in reruns, but when I was older I caught it sometimes in reruns. She was brilliant in her comedic delivery and her touch of tenderness.

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  15. Ah nice tribute to her. She will be missed and yes we have great family memories watching Edith Bunker. I could never get that character out of my mind, no matter what other role she played.
    Not only was there one T.V. We only had 3 English stations CFCF12, ch 6 and UHF. UHF only worked If it was a clear day. Haha. We never had cable growing up, we spent most of our days outside. But we had one of the first colour TVs. My father owned a company called Mid-city TV. One of those huge floor models. Ah memories.

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  16. Hey just noticed you are at 901 congrats.
    Caroline.

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  17. I have a lot of fond memories of those days watching that show and others. I do miss the good old days.
    Liz

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  18. You described my childhood perfectly. We had about 3 channels and one of us kids had to get up and turn it for my Dad. Bunny ear antennas.
    I remember watching this show, Happy Days, and Laverne and Shirley. Television sure has changed.

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  19. I was in my very early 20's when this show was the main event for everyone! They were both great actors and every once in a while we will catch a rerun of it among the hundreds of channels and laugh and think "Those were the Days". Great post!

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  20. I used to love this show as a kid! I dint't realize she had passed away. Thanks for sharing such a touching post. I wish tv these days was as good as it used to be in the good old days...:)

    Blessings, Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

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  21. She was such a talented entertainer! Now...all of the things you mentioned are done while the TV is going!!

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