Saturday, October 28, 2006

It's a Small "World" After All

(In my last post, I mentioned that I had another "coincidence" tale regarding my sister-in-law. The following is also a true story!)

A fellow blogger, whose writing I respect and admire, told the story recently of a friend being “outed” about her daily habit of tuning into “All My Children” for the last couple of decades. I guess we have all been guilty of watching the soaps at one time or another, and many of us probably chose to “out” ourselves in the hope that the person we were talking to would be just as enthusiastic about their daily dose of unreality as we were.

My grandmother had gotten me into “Days of Our Lives” when I was ten. I know, I know…I was a little young to be quite so interested in the drama of the soap world, but back then you didn’t need an “M” rating to watch the passion between Doug and Julie. Dare I say that it was…wholesome?

Eventually, I became addicted to “Another World”, which followed “Days”. I was pregnant with my second child at the time, and I spent a lot of hours alone and longing for adult interaction. Watching the soaps, I found that I could transport myself into “another world”, even if it was only for an hour. I lived vicariously through the passion, love and emotion of the characters on the show. I fell in love with a rogue character (whose name I will keep anonymous out of respect for the gentleman who portrayed him), and couldn’t wait to tune in every afternoon to see what trouble he was cooking up that day. A few years later, after my marriage had ended, I was presented with the opportunity to attend an "Another World" luncheon. When I met this gentleman in person, I thought that he was just as charming and adorable as he was on the show. So about a month later, I decided to write to him and send him my picture and my phone number.

Less than a week later, I received a phone call from a man stating to be this actor. At first, I didn’t believe that it was him…and then I gained my composure and enjoyed a 30 minute-long conversation with the most smooth-talking Romeo that you could imagine. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. He called the next day, and told me that his house on Long Island was “under construction”, so how would I like to meet up with him at his hotel in Manhattan for lunch? Then we could pay a visit to Victoria’s Secret, so he could "buy me whatever I wanted” and, according to him, we could go back to his hotel where I could “model” all of the outfits for him!

Okay, I admit…I was feeling a little desperate after my husband left me for someone else, but thank God I wasn’t stupid. I politely told him that I would consider it (I already knew the answer was no, but I will admit...if I were a different kind of person...say, to the tune of Paris Hilton...it could have been fun). He told me to think it over and that he would call me the next day.

He did call the next day, and the next day after that. The clincher was when he called one afternoon right after my kids came home from school, and they started to have a rip-roaring fight over a toy. They ran through the house like Tom and Jerry and finally ended up between my legs, crying and whining while I embarrassingly stood there on the phone and exclaimed “What can I say?!? This is my life!!” He politely told me that he had to go, and would call me again tomorrow.

I never heard from him again.

Well, life goes on. Several years later, I remarried and became very close with my new sister-in-law. One day, while we were having a ladies night at her house, she started to tell the story of when she dated “this guy from Another World”, and she went into detail about how all he seemed to care about was getting into her pants! I stood there in amazement, and said, “Hey, wait a minute!! That’s my story!!” She looked confused, as did all of the other women in the room. It turned out that she actually dated this very same soap star for a few weeks and came to realize, as I did, that although he was a really nice guy, he was definitely a player and not worth investing any emotion into. We laughed over the similar stories and pointed out how small the world actually was that the two of us were “involved” in some way with the same male star of a soap opera.

I no longer watch the soaps, and haven’t for about 9 years. I found that once I met my present husband, my life became a soap opera of its own with ex-wives, ex-husbands, ex-girlfriends, ex-boyfriends, his kids, my kids, our families, our friends…who needed to watch it when I could live it every single day?!? Although I admit...I could use the commercial break now and then.

10 comments:

Me said...

Lisa, such a great read and great story!! i love it...
i am so glad that you are enjoying your "real" life..but i am still amazed at the coincident!! Real life is much more amazing and amusing than TV soaps!!
As for the commercial break...make plans at one point in your life to come and visit me in Beirut, i am sure you will have fun..bring your best friend too, the one you clink your glasses with and say “S.E.,BABY!”
have a great weekend!

Carine-what's cooking? said...

good post lisa, we do live in a much smaller world than we ever expect!

www.Carine-whatscooking.blogspot.com

Sideways Chica said...

Excellent chica...a delicious almost "nooner" story served up with plenty 'o hot and spicy nougats. ;)

Keep checking those bathroom stalls...and if you see another chica doing the same, it just may be me.

Ciao...

Dust-bunny said...

Summer,

I know that some of what I write seems "out there", but if you knew me, you would know that I have a very hard time making things up!

I know we all might take "artistic license" once in a while if, for example, we write about a particular conversation that we had with somebody and don't remember what was said verbatim...but as far as the stories that I write in this blog, they are all true! I promise.

You are right, life can be more interesting than soaps! Keep reading...I haven't even scratched the surface!

Take good care,
Lisa

Dust-bunny said...

Carine,

It's funny, but I have had incidents similar to these throughout my life. Other people have not...makes you wonder sometimes, doesn't it? What is this great "thing" that keeps us all connected...is it spirit, is it an energy grid, is it really, truly just "coincidence"? Food for thought!

Take good care,
Lisa

Dust-bunny said...

Teri,

There is a reason why I chose not to use this man's name. Although I don't believe he lives in this state anymore, I did see him after this whole incident at, of all places, a karate meet when my son was about 5 years old! Turns out he was with a friend and his kid. I was with my future husband, and he was not at all happy that this guy was there. I figured it was best to not go up to him and say "hi"!! Not that he would've remembered who I was anyway. But it goes to show you that you just never know where someone will turn up!

And you just never know who will read your blogs. When in doubt, leave the name out!

Take good care,
Lisa

Big Dave T said...

I knew there was a reason I've never liked soaps.

Dust-bunny said...

Dave,

Can't say that I blame you...I can turn on "Days" right now and still know what's going on after not watching it for almost 10 years! Something not right there...

Take good care,
Lisa

Kacey said...

My "soaps" were Days of Our Lives and Another World when I was in my early thirties. Julie was only 17 and her boyfriend, David, did the nasty with Susan and she got pregnant. It was so long ago, that Susan and David had to get married. In fact, it was so long ago, that I was shocked when
Susan called out from the bathroom, "I'm bleeding!" Shows you how much times have changed --- nobody gets married and they do anything on TV now, and .....I am no longer shocked by anything. By the way, are there any Hortons left on "Days"? I know Grampa and Grandma are probably in another world, but what about Bill and Mike and even Julie for that matter? See how you lose touch? lol Also, there wasn't anyone on "Anolther World" that was good enough for you!

Dust-bunny said...

Kacey,

You are so funny!! I haven't watched Days recently, I know Another World went off the air some time ago. But my participants at my job are always talking about the soaps, and Days seems to be a popular one! I actually think Grandma Horton is still alive...? Bo, Hope, Marlena, John--I think even Roman is back on the show--they all still seem to be popular, as are their children, all victims of SORAS (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome)!

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope all is going well with your move!


Take good care,
Lisa