Something to Remember

I'm continuing to collect quotes from "Leave it to Beaver" as time allows for me to watch episodes. Some of them are gems, as you well know, and many are funny. Here's another one. They're pretty popular at the Facebook page, which isn't surprising.

Wally and Beaver

Our friends, Wally and Beaver of the show "Leave it to Beaver" in a cute photo I found at Tumblr. The quote is so typical of the conversations these two often had and was one of many reasons the show was so popular. You can find an old post about this show here.

It's a Wonderful Life

There is so much I could say about this movie, as most of us could, but the word that comes most to my mind is the word "tradition." For our family, this movie has been a tradition, and while some of its themes are indeed adult, for my children that was never a problem. After all, this is a fantasy story, and what child doesn't appreciate that?

Family values come through loud and clear and when George Bailey goes off the "deep end," what brings him back to the reality of just what it is in life that's important? Yes, his wife and children. 

It's one of those films where you can say many of the lines with the actors, you've seen it so often. It enriches our home as we listen to the sounds while we do our baking, or wrap the gifts, or trim the tree. Well, it's a major part of Christmas around here, that is, the traditional part.

As with everything we do these days of holiday preparation, we just need to make sure that Christ does not get lost in the shuffle. 

But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a little excursion into this little small town and its people. 

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Lassie

 (Image from the movie, "Lassie Come Home.")

I rather think this is a TV series your children might enjoy and benefit from. I'm so sorry that most of the ones I tend to recommend are oldies, but such is the state of things, I'm afraid. I remember watching this show during its very long run from 1954 to 1973. Now that's a long time for a TV show, so obviously there were a lot of people who watched it besides me.

If you like heartwarming stories with lessons of love, compassion, adventure, courage, and the like, maybe it would be worthwhile digging up some dvds if they're to be found or look for it on a channel that broadcasts the old shows. And then, of course, the movie can be viewed from a variety of sources, I would hope. I don't KNOW this, but maybe you would want to look into it.

We don't have to succumb to everything we're being fed today. We do have choices, and one of those choices is to dig into the past and unearth some of the oldies but goodies. In my opinion, the Lassie show and movie fit into that category. And this is especially true if you like dogs AND children like me. But then again, sometimes I found the show a bit sad as it often made me teary. But that's just the way I am, and then again, who's to say that's not a good thing for your kids too?

I need to mention that the show had Lassie's exploits taking place with family life in a farming community, then some seasons of adventures with  US Forest Rangers, and the canine star finally ended her long series run at a children's home. For some reason, I don't remember the last seasons so perhaps I never watched those, I'm not sure.

So there you have it. Lassie is my latest TV recommendation. More to come no doubt.

Fondly,
Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Ozzie and Harriet

While browsing through my personal blog looking for something else, I ran across a post I made almost two and a half years ago. It was a rather short post about the death of David Nelson, older son of Ozzie and Harriet, who played themselves in the very popular sitcom that lasted for as long as any tv show I can remember. It ran for fourteen years, from 1952 to 1966. That fact alone is rather amazing to me, as is the fact that people actually watched and enjoyed a real life family going through the everyday experiences that real life families go through. Nothing outstanding at all, just a family being just that: a family. Actually, the everyday occurrences of life can be rather amusing when you think about it; we could get chuckles from things that come up with ordinary folks like us, and so it was with the Nelsons. David was the last of the four to pass away, so it really was the end of O and H.

Well, reading that post wet my appetite to watch a little bit of the show this evening. We have loads of episodes on dvd’s and often enjoy a particular one as much the fifth of sixth time watching it as the first. However, I ended up on Netflix and saw one that for some reason, I don’t remember at all. It’s title is “David’s Birthday” and it’s all about when he turned seventeen, at which time he wanted to appear older because of his crush on a girl who he heard was only interested in older guys. Well, there were the usual humorous moments, particularly with younger Ricky, but true to form with entertainment in past days, we had some good advice from a father (advice which was sought, btw) and a “trick” played by a wise mama. I found it totally enjoyable, but then it’s par for the course that I would.

Now, you know how I like to watch old tv shows and movies and talk about them. It’s one of my greatest pleasures, in fact. It’s refreshing and calming if that makes sense. Just watching is uplifting and writing about the experience makes it seem more than a relaxing passing of the time. How pleasant to watch a family, real or not, calmly and cheerfully engaging with their teenage son. Shows like these have teen guys  talking about being taken with this or that girl, about going on dates and all that went with it, and not once is there anything said or done that would cause you or I to hesitate letting our younger child or teen watch the whole thing with us. And that, of course, includes the commercials. There was a time it was actually like that, and it makes me feel a wee bit better to remember. And also, it’s a reminder to all of us that we can be thankful for dvd’s and even computer services like Netflix where we can take our children and grandchildren  back to a time when things were different.

Oh, for the return of some measure of that which was! No, it wasn’t perfect then. Yes, there was sin in the lives of these people and everyone else from that era. Agreed, there were some things they did which I wouldn’t do in my own family and with my own children. But, still, as someone quoted about the death of David Nelson: one more person from a “gentler, kinder past” has gone on. And I certainly do agree with that definition of that time period for television.

Grandma Walton

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

I've been having a Waltons re-watching marathon, having recently seen all of Season 3, grabbing bits between household duties. It's been totally enjoyable. Something made me think about a favorite episode from Season 2, which I looked at last night. It's episode 12 of that season, about Grandma being bequeathed the "huge" sum of $250 through the will of a deceased old friend.

You know I always look for lessons from most of these old shows and movies and such is the case here. I'm not saying everything is perfectly sterling in these Walton stories. In fact, some of them are frankly accurate regarding human failings in the midst of otherwise wholesome family life. But all in all, I think the quote found on the back of the book we have here entitled Goodnight John-Boy is a true one:

"For nine years The Waltons entertained America and the world. But this television series was more than just entertainment. Each episode combined wonderful stories and 'teachable moments' in which adults and children alike learned the importance of honesty, hard work, respect, responsibility, and kindness."

Going back  to the episode mentioned above, we see the touching story of Grandma, who receiving this bequest, made a listing of how she intended to spend the money. I won't detail it all (please watch the episode), except to say the bulk of the money was to be applied to John-Boy's education. When news came shortly after that Grandma's friend had died indigent and therefore there actually would be no money coming, of course the dear old soul was devastated.

The lessons in the episode are multiple, but at this point I just want to focus a brief moment on that which touched me most. It was the love between this grandmother and her eldest grandson. First, I love how he responded to her when he first found out she wanted to give so much of the bequest to his college fund and her words that she wanted to give something to him. "But Grandma," he said, "You've been giving to me all my life." Oh my. What words. Then, in the aftermath of her bitter disappointment that she wouldn't be able to do this for him and her feelings that she had ruined things for him (because of the bequest, they had felt they could  use the money previously set aside for him for a needed hot water heater), he cared little about that. He cared about her. We see him going to her room and helping her smile again by voicing, among other things, something so poignant: "I always felt that this family was rich, and we never had any money." *sigh*

Now tell me, grandmothers. Do you, like me, want to follow in the tradition of Grandma Walton, who thought first of her family in hard times, but also first of her family in perceived good times? I know I do. In another story I remember John-Boy saying, "I cherish you, Grandma." Oh may we follow in this woman's footsteps in her care and generosity that made her deserving of those words.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Character Lessons from "The Little Princess"

Okay, so I admit that I'm a Shirley Temple fan. That is, a fan of her little girl movies. I'm not sure if I have a favorite one; I've seen them all, most of them countless times. At least I THINK I've seen them all. But for certain "The Little Princess," loosely based on a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is high up there. I never read the book, but from what I read at the YouTube video, someone said the ending to the movie is vastly different. I would love to hear from someone who could tell how the book ended.

But I wanted to take a few minutes to say some things about little Miss Temple's character in this particular story, Sara Crewe. There are a lot of other aspects of the movie I could talk about, and maybe someday will, but for now I want to focus on the character qualities displayed by Sara, which you may agree would be good examples for your children, both boys and girls. There's a good chance we'll be talking more here about this young actress who captured the hearts of many in her day. Not so much about the actress, but the movies and the stories they captured, some having many lessons. We'll see how that goes in the future.

So what of Sara Crewe, daughter of Captain Crewe who went off to war leaving her (he thought in good hands) at the girls school of the story's "villain," Miss Minchin? What can this "little princess" teach the young ones in your home about qualities of character that are universal and timeless? I've thought of five areas. Perhaps you could think of even more.

1. Her filial affection and respect towards her father. Surely this is to be desired in any household. She exemplifies Proverbs 6:20-22 in my opinion.

2. Her courage. In the face of dire circumstances, she was steadfastly brave and hopeful.

3. Her loyalty. I was particularly touched by her friendship with Becky, a servant girl much beneath her social status, which the social norms of the period would have prohibited. She loved and accepted Becky even before her decline in status. She didn't let the wrong opinions of others deter her from this.

4. Her unselfishness and generosity. At the birthday party, as she was a girl of means, you might have expected to see greed and selfishness, but we see none of that with Sara. Indeed, she seemed to find more joy in the giving than in the receiving.

5. Her trust in God. As we observe her prayer for the well being of her father and her temporary perception of a very speedy answer immediately after, we can believe this child had this trust as a basis for her expectations that the poem she recited at her father's departure (at his bidding) would hold true:

"My daddy has to go away,

But he'll return most any day.

Any moment I may see,

My daddy coming back to me."

With Sara as a fine example of a "good soldier," maybe you could watch this movie with your youngsters and talk about how a fictitious character in a fairy tale type story can teach them good things.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Leave it to Beaver

 Wikepedia photo

As most of us know, Leave it to Beaver was a situation comedy which aired on regular network TV from 1957 to 1963, which would be roughly six years duration. For a show to last that long on the networks would indicate some measure of success I would say. Lately, we've been watching the series on Antenna TV, a digital TV network (whatever that means) and may I say, thoroughly enjoying it. The thought occurred to me last night that in the day we now find ourselves, I doubt if this show would make it for a month, let alone six years. 

There aren't many spiritual implications in the show's lessons, even though in a recent episode they were all making ready to go to church together. But what a delight to see a father who leads his family, a wife who's really into her husband and kids, parents who are committed to each other and their children (with even a few realistic disagreements thrown in) and young people who refer to their parents and other adults by the terms "sir" and "maam." Seeing Beaver and his classmates responding to their teacher with "Yes, Miss Landers" is music to the ears. I like it that the boys often make wrong choices, and that the consequences for those poor choices come through loud and clear. As put by Wikipedia: "The adult viewer enjoys Beaver's adventures while discovering tips for teaching children correct behavior and methods for successfully handling common childhood problems." So true that is and that is what I like so much about the series.

Although Leave it to Beaver would undoubtedly be considered a fail in today's society, for me, my late evening encounters with the Cleaver family have been a breath of fresh air. I wish you and your family might have opportunity to watch it too, and that your children would find it enjoyable. I think parents would appreciate the many little lessons from the every day family experiences that are there.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna