If I remember correctly, I was in kindergarten when the television series The “Dukes of Hazzard” claimed the top spot in the Nielsen ratings. It is entirely possible I’m wrong about the dates. Sometimes I remember things differently than other people. Or the even the truth. The other day I argued with someone about when she taught primary. I was pretty insistent I was right until I realized, uh, she probably knows her own timeline better than me. Oops.
So, if I’m not mistaken, The Dukes of Hazzard was all the hubbub when I went to kindergarten – but don’t quote me on that. It’s not really important to the story anyway.
You remember the plot line don’t you? A couple of good ol’ boys running around in a cool car. Outwitting the lawmen. That’s about it. When I say a couple of good ol’ boys, I mean grown men. And no, I don’t know anything about cars but I do recognize a cool name when I see it. What can I say? I am pretty partial to anything with the name Lee in it.
I watched the series faithfully back then. It’s on CMT nowadays. I can’t watch it now. I tried. All those cousins with one “Uncle Jesse.” The bumbling sheriff with the you-know-you-want-to-try-and-imitate-it laugh. The little Kentuckian mob boss always dressed in white despite all that dust the cars kick up. There’s a possibility, it all might be just a little farfetched.
Apparently, a few of the guys might have found Daisy Duke attractive. I guess. While all the girls were twitterpated with Bo Duke. Let’s just say 99.9% of the girls. But there was one – I know because I’m that one – that had to go against the grain. The popular blond haired cousin repulsed me. I professed, quite loudly, that Luke Duke was the much better looking cousin. While all the other girls had posters of John Schneider hanging on their walls, (sigh) I had Tom Wopat. Try as I might, and I sure tried, I could not get anyone else to join me in my camp. I stood alone.
Okay, as if this post wasn’t embarrassing enough I’ll keep going. The other night, I watched the ABC Family musical “Lovestruck the Musical” on tv. Who should I see? None other than Luke Duke singing his heart out with Jane Seymour. Or, at least, while one or both of them lip synched. I’m not sure. As I watched him I couldn’t help but think, “What was I thinking?”
To all the girls I argued with and insisted Luke Duke was the cuter cousin may I just say, “Ohhh yeah. You might be right.”
This show (indirectly) taught me a valuable lesson as a kid. I remember throwing a fit because we were going roller skating and I would have to miss watching what was among the most important things in my life at the time. I had such an awesome time at the rink and was embarrassed by my earlier recalcitrance and by being such a couch potato in general.
That was a good lesson to learn. One, I’m ashamed to say, I only recently learned. But now, we don’t really have to choose, do we? Between Tivo and the internet, we can actually have our cake and eat it, too. 🙂