Me TV

Before we left for our vacation, we had arranged for a friend to stay at our home to keep our cat company and the home occupied.  One of the things we have learned living in the country is that people who live in cities love to visit us for the peace and quiet.  One time, my twin brother-in-laws and I were sitting on our deck drinking a beer when they asked in unison ”What is all that racket?” – “Frogs” I happily replied.

For a retired person, our home can become Shangri-La.  Thankfully we are at the age where we know quite a few of those, so one of my wife’s friends graciously offered to stay at our home.  We were grateful and taught her all about the house and how to do various things, including how to operate the television.

Of course, Murphy’s Law follows us as it does most people, so our TV decided to die the same week we were scheduled to leave.  For me, a deceased TV was a god send, but for most, it is the end of civilization.   Off we went to buy a new one with our travel savings before we left.

Once we returned I was reminded of the purchase now sitting in our living room.  I developed a new appreciation for what I could do with this new TV.  I call it Me TV. I am not referring to the station that promotes itself with all the classic television offerings. I mean I have created a real, Me TV.  I plugged a flash drive into the back loaded with our vacation photos and when I come home to write for my TR programs, Me TV does not blare bad new or reality shows.  Me TV is a background of colorful mountains, fresh prairie flowers or deep blue lakes that slowly flip by.  Me TV has no bad news.  The only “jam-up” is a mountain goat pushing his buddy for a better grazing position.  I see my wife smiling, or a clear mountain stream spraying the camera – taken while on a rafting trip.  I see happy memories that flip by gently as they make me lift my head and smile and ponder and reflect.

For two weeks I had no negative airwaves telling me how I should think of this or that. I yearn for a day when good news is not at the end of the program as quick “pick-me-up-feel-good” piece that is patronizing.  The day I look forward to is the day when there is an entire news day of the real people who help each other: the cop who buys a coat for a homeless person; the old woman who has the door held open by the young boy with blue hair; the girl who is given a band-aid and an ice cream by stranger when she falls and skins her knee.  These are things I have seen in my real life.  From my experience, the people I meet are good, honest and hard working and willing to help someone else.   It might be the Midwestern in me that thinks this, but the majority of people I meet are good people.

I fear that without promoting this and the idea of making your own version of Me TV, we might fall into a trap of spending far too much time watching the bad news and thinking that is the reality.  Reality TV is not reality.  It is meant to be entertainment and a way to slot in commercials for products most of us don’t need.

Make your own Me TV and you will have your reality TV that you can enjoy every day.