I have a confession. I watch Oprah religiously. I have watched it almost all of its 25 years. Now in the age of DVRs, it is not appointment TV anymore, but I see it all. So what am I going to do now?
Those of you who follow the Daytime Queen know that she has been closing down her show with a series of all-time favorites, follow-ups, etc. And boy, have I gone down Memory Lane. We have revisited Mattie, the beautiful boy that introduced us to Heart Songs. I could have put Noah back in business with the tears.
In fact, there were a lot of crying moments. The woman who barely survived the fiery car crash. The mother who finally moved on after her daughter was murdered. The little girl who grew up watching videos her mother made once she knew she was dying. Lots of tears. Lots of inspiration.
I eat this stuff up like chocolate chip cookies precisely two minutes out of the oven with a side of milk. It is something of a drug. It provides a bit of catharsis as I temporarily live through their stories.
Oprah is not a great celebrity interviewer. There I said it. I know that it is against the law in most if the world to suggest that she is not the greatest talk show host ever but that is not her forte. Leave that to Barbara Walters. What she does do right is the heartstrings story. Give her a Don Quixote that caught his windmill and she will change your life. Give her a project to stand behind and she will change the world. Give her a celebrity and prepare to go to sleep or go vomit. Or both — hopefully vomiting before sleeping. Just sayin’.
And Ms. Oprah is the queen of the mixed message. One day she tells me that I should be authentic and not focus on things and the next day, she shares her Favorite Things. She’ll share a story spotlighting how a woman has survived some terrible disfigurement and how her inner beauty has triumphed. A week later, she’ll do a make-over. She’ll tell us mothers that we should let go and stop trying to do it all and then she will have Martha Stewart teaching the proper way to fold a fitted sheet. Really? Really, is there a proper way to fold a fitted sheet? Evidently, the answer is yes.
You want a clue into my warped psyche? See above.
And yet, I will miss my life lessons, folding instructions, and tips on wearing the correct bra. 4:00 pm will never be the same.
Three shows more and I am on my own. It seemed appropriate to turn to Dusty Springfield because I just don’t know what I’ll do with myself.
I just don’t know what to do with myself
Don’t know just what to do with myself
I’m so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we’re through
I just don’t know what to do with my time
I’m so lonesome for you, it’s a crime
Going to a movie only makes me sad
Parties make me feel as bad
When I’m not with you, I just don’t know what to do
Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love to beat all the pain
I just don’t know what to do with myself
I just don’t know what to do with myself
Baby, if your new love ever turns you down
Come back, I will be around
Just waiting for you, I don’t know what else to do
So, will you miss Ms. O? What will you do with yourself?
I will admit it…I will miss her too.
I haven’t watched as much the last few years, but I still catch her when I can.
It feels like the end of an era. She has been on the tv for almost my entire life.
We’ll have to start a support group — haha!
Traci
Ah yes, she’s the queen. I’ve enjoyed her these past couple decades.
It’s been so long, it’s just impossible to imagine TV without her.
Traci
I used to watch Oprah religiously. For the last 5 or so years I’ve been hit or miss with her show. She’s on right when my kids get off the bus and my house is completely crazy till bedtime. I’ll be dvr’ing the last episode though.
I have already told my family to leave me alone from 4:00-5:00 CST on Wednesday — LOL!
Traci
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Just browsing some of the blog hop blogs and I wanted to say hi! I will follow you as well. We also have a Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/aiasdotca that you should check out! We always like and follow back, just leave us a note <3
Monika @ Aias Dot Ca
Blog: http://www.aias.ca
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Thanks for stopping me. I am always so glad to meet new bloggers.
Traci
I suspect it will be like a loss, you will probably have to grieve. However, I heard she was going to a new network, one she owns? Is that right?
She did start a new network but so far it has very little prgramming with her — I guess we will have to see. I’ll need a new fix.
Traci
Not that big here in England, we have our so-called equivalent to Oprah in the form of Vanessa Feltz – a poor substitute I know and in no way an answer to your loss.
I may have to google and see if Vanessa is on You Tube. I think we as Americans have gone a little crazy for Oprah. What was really crazy was when she covered the Royal Wedding. We were over the moon here for Will and Kate. Add that to one of Oprah’s last show and it was pure insanity.
I guess I will have to find something else to do with my time — maybe something smarter like reading.
Traci
I will miss her too.
Join me in a support group. My name is Traci and I am an Oprah addict. LOL
Traci
I’ve been watching her since I was 10…can’t believe she won’t be on anymore!
I know! It really is an end of an era. I’m turning forty this summer just after her shw turnes 25. That is more than half my life!
Traci
I bawled through her last three shows in one sitting. I just love her. She reminds me of Princess Diana with her power to move us emotionally. She takes it to another level, though, with her power to change millions of people’s lives via self-help, reading, etc.. Boy, when she passes away some day, there will be no doubt that she made a difference in this life.
She really has impacted me. It feels weird each day at 4:00 when I expect to turn it on and realize that the show is over. It is a big hole in my life.
Traci