The memory knocked me over the head yesterday evening as I ran to the kitchen to quickly grab my pizza and then hustle it back to the living room before the commercial break was over. I didn’t want to miss the next big surprise that Oprah had to share on the premiere of her farewell season.
I flashed back to Sunday afternoons when my brother and I would suddenly realize WWF was starting and we hadn’t even made our lunches! We would sprint to the kitchen “YOU MAKE THE SANDWICHES! I’LL GRAB THE DIET COKE!” and we would scurry through the kitchen as fast as possible to make it back down the stair in time for the first wrestling match.
The Ravishing Rick Rude.
The Million Dollar Man.
The Bushwackers.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
Macho Man Randy Savage.
We knew them all. Had each costume and story line memorized. The WWF marked the beginning of my long time love affair with reality tv. I was so connected to the characters that I actually cried when Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant began their feud because a.) I had a Daddy complex and longed for The Hulk to be my Dad (also Michael Landon, but we’ll save that post for another day) and b.) because Andre the Giant scared the shit out of me.
I mean have you seen that guy?
Every Sunday we plopped in front of the TV for the next installment. We dreamed for the day to come when we’d be old enough to buy the pay-per-view late night matches. We knew that was where the good stuff happened.
Only here I am twenty years later…still scurrying through the kitchen “QUICK GET THE PIZZA, GRAB THE WATER…I HEAR THE MUSIC STARTING HURRY…IT’S THE FAAAREWELLLLL SEASON!!!!!”
I sat smiling from ear to ear for an entire hour, mouth stuffed full, pizza crumbs falling down the front of my shirt, greasy fingers…just smiling as women on Oprah LOST it over a trip before they even knew where the trip was taking them. That is the nectar of life I tell ya.
Oprah. Women. Surprises. Free stuff. Happy people. People helping people.
It’s a far cry from Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, but let’s be thankful for that. I can only imagine what kind of person I’d be if I were actually paying to watch late night WWF shows right now.
Sorry old Kathy.
Oprah it is. Again.