I need to stop watching reality television. These days if I am not having a "moment" over Long Lost Families I am having a "moment" when I watch Married at First Sight..
Now before I go into Long Lost Families, I know there is a lot of debate around the show Married At First Sight, can I tell you, there are a lot of people who relate to what these couples are going through. Isn't it the same as an arranged marriage which is common in some cultures? Is it because we are a culture (Australian - is that politically correct?) that means we debate it so fiercely? Yes, I hate the fact that gay marriage isn't legal here and I get a lot of people are pissed we can arrange a marriage for tv ratings but two people, who just happen to be of the same sex, can't get married, but I am not convinced it is wrong.. The tv show that is as not allowing gay marriage is just WRONG!!. Pandora's box really..
But I digress... I m hooked on "long Lost Families". I have to make sure I watch it when I know I can sit in my home and cry like a baby so no one sees me. Which isn't hard these days as I spend quite a bit of time alone with Lily Cat.
Kind of off subject but not totally, I love the show "Love Child". Let me explain why. They tie in.
My mum was pregnant in 1971. She was a single mum. I was born in early 1972 to a single mother. That equals her parents and society being really, well pissed. They sent her to NSW, presumably to one of the "homes" they sent single mothers to in the 70's. But my mum (and you wonder where I get my guts from) dissed that idea big time ran away and caught a train to Newcastle. So the story goes - because really, we have only scratched the surface once or twice. It hurts her too much to talk about and I had a good life, so why bother dragging up the past. She stayed with a friend, I have seen the photos. And then when it was time for me to come along she went home.
There is so much I could say. To try and fill in the blanks. But I can't. All I know is I am very grateful my mum had he guts to fight for me. I watch Love Child and Long Lost Families and over analyse the whole thing (it's a girl thing). My mum could have ended up in one of those homes. I could be that person on Long Lost Families looking for my family. And I am not. Phew.
You fast forward to today and I am so incredibly lucky my mum met my dad. Yep, the man who adopted me when I was about 2, and whose name is on my birth certificate. I have never known anything different. My dad is my rock, the only man I truly love, right now, in my life.
My grand parents forgave my mum, apparently as soon as I was born. I still have the teddy bear my mum was given before I was born.
How lucky am I? So I watch these shows with a certain "I am so incredibly lucky" as I could have been a product of either.
I know this blog is a bit all over the shop but it is hard to get your thoughts down without boring people. So I leave you with this. I sometimes wonder whether my life is a sitcom. I get myself into more interesting situations than most - it has been that way since birth. My life is never dull. Oh it has never been dull. And for the most part, I wouldn't have it any other way.
