Did Grey’s Anatomy Die with Denny?
I am a T.V. lover. I admit it. When people ask me my hobbies, I usually say something like creating useless pieces of art or going antiquing but my real hobby is watching television. I know more about sitcom families than I do about my own family. Lately however, I haven’t been home a lot so my DVR is full of unwatched glorious bits of television genius. For some reason, my DVR has always wanted me to stop watching Grey’s Anatomy. Maybe it is just trying to help my prioritize my shows. So Grey’s (as we watchers affectionately call it) has not been taping and what is perhaps the most shocking news of all is that I don’t care.
Like most Americans, I loved movies like Can’t Buy Me Love and Loverboy starring Patrick Dempsey so when he came out of hiding post nose job and teeth work, I knew I would be there every week to greet him. For the first season or all 9 episodes, I was hooked. All the secret hospital love and “Whoa, Dr. Shepherd is actually married” cliffhanger at the end of Season 1 was enough for this girl to keep coming back for more. Second Season did not disappoint because there was one patient who overshadowed Dr. Shepherd to become my McDreamy; Denny Duquette. He had it all except the health. He was charming, witty and not afraid to break the rules to get what he wanted. My sister, who also fell in love with Denny says he just has that magic thing where he can be smiling but also have tears in his eyes like John Cusack. It’s true. He was a dreamboat. I tuned in each week no longer to see Patrick Dempsey but to see Denny.
Season 2 Finale:
I heard How to Save a Life by the Fray on my way to work this morning and even 5 years later, I teared up and that song was just on the previews. You don’t want to see me when I hear Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I do believe Grey’s Anatomy writer Shonda Rhimes tries her best to gut us during Season finales and she succeeded Season 2. This episode aired before I had DVR and I would drive to my friend Steph’s house to re watch it over and over again then I would cry the whole way home. I couldn’t take it. Most of America couldn’t either which is why they had to bring Denny back as a ghost just to make us all feel better.
Grey’s hasn’t been as captivating since. After Denny, Izzie’s story lost all of it’s luster. I could never believe that she was in love with Alex after Denny. Really, I can’t believe anyone would be in love with Alex but that’s just me. Years later without Izzie, without George and with a whole bunch of new characters added, Grey’s just isn’t the same. Could they just never rise up again to the greatness of Season 2? Grey’s Antomy is fighting to keep it’s pulse but for me, I think the show flatlined when Denny did.
Single: A Four Letter Word
There was an older woman who attended the church I grew up at who by every definition was an “Old Maid” or a “Spinster”. When I was in the 6th grade she came to talk to my Girl Scout group about her life. We asked her why she never had gotten married and her answer has always stuck with me. Ok, it kind of haunts me. She said that when she was a young girl, she would play Post Office with her friends. Boys would send her letters but she would return the letters return to sender. They continued to send letters and just like always she would return them. Then she said the words that kind of play over and over in my head, “Then one day they just stopped sending letters.” Was she just too picky? Uninterested in dating? Or did she miss the boat?
I’m a single girl and pretty comfortable with that status. I was a late bloomer when it came to boys. When everyone else was having their first dates and first kisses in high school, I was writing the Mickey Mouse Club fan letters and sending Jonathan Brandis my hand-made friendship bracelets. You could say I wasn’t really in touch with reality. I remember feeling left out but mostly because my friends had other plans that didn’t involve me. No one in high school ever asked me out so I never had to worry about it. They weren’t on my radar and I wasn’t on theirs so it worked out well. It wasn’t until college that I started dating and haven’t stopped since. Not because I like dating but because I haven’t found the right person for me. Now before you “Oooohhh” and “Ahhhh”, “poor thing”, and “tsk tsk” me, you should know something. Yes, I look forward to the day when I am married and have children but I am not interested in marrying someone just for the title. That’s way too easy. Us single girls in our thirties should not be treated like designer jeans that are now sold at T.J. Maxx because the company made too many. We are still designer jeans. Yes, I know your sister’s ex husband’s brother is a great catch and I’m glad he is almost out for parole but he is not for me.
On the flip side I don’t want the boys to stop sending letters because I keep sending them back either. WHAT IS YOUR POINT, MEGAN! Here it is..being single doesn’t mean someone wasn’t good enough for the first draft. So when you look at an awesome single lady, or guy for that matter, and say, in my opinion, the most patronizing statement: “I just don’t understand why you are single” you might think you are saying “You are great, everyone wants to be with you” (which we actually already know) but to us it sounds like you are saying being married is a club you have to be a part of and we just can’t seem to score an invite. Maybe before you say that statement you should stop and think about how God is faithful and we are just along for the ride. We know you care about us and that is why you want us to find someone to be happy. We will if it is in God’s plan. If not, God has another great plan for us.
You all remember how to play “Old Maid” right? Or “Jennifer Aniston” as the media would like to have us call it. 
You pick from a group of cards and pair up your matches, the one stuck with the Old Maid loses. Look closer at that picture of the Old Maid, looks to me like she’s having a great time. Reminds me of another lady I once knew who one day just stopped receiving mail.
Would Barbie Recognize Me Now
I went to Barnes and Noble the other day and a book about the History of Barbie caught my eye. Most people know a mother created a 3-D paper doll and named it after her daughter Barbara. The reason she invented Barbie was so that little girls could act out their dreams for their future. I guess I knew that was what I was doing but I had never thought about it before. It had me wondering if the life I’m living is letting down myself as a little girl or if I’m living up to my past Barbie playing future fantasies. I will say I have yet to be in a love triangle with Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre (there is still time) but besides that scenario, how does my real life compare to my Barbie’s life?
When I was in my single digits and heavier Barbie playing days, I thought my twenties and early thirties would be like Day and Night Barbie.
I would of course roll out of my pink bed, jog on my tip toes for 45 minutes, shower, make coffee that would not stain my teeth, put on my pink suede suit, my pink-tip heels and head to the office.
Once my long day of working hard and being charming was over I would go home, take off my blazer which would be hard since my arms don’t bend and now reveal my sequined tank top. I would then take my skirt off, flip it around and all the sudden be wearing dazzling cocktail attire. Time for my date with Ken. I hope he is wearing his pink cummerbund tonight. Giggle, giggle looks like he is. Oh, that Ken!
Does my life live up to Barbie’s life?
No and yes! Usually my day starts out with hitting the snooze button, wearing the wrong holiday socks with my special support shoes, finding some matching unisex button down shirt with a Mr. Rogers sweater, putting my hair in a ponytail and heading out the door. I don’t look like a Barbie but as long as I have long hair the kids I teach don’t seem to notice that I’m not wearing a pink suede suit with matching heels.
When I get home from work, I rarely (but sometimes do) put on a cocktail dress but sometimes I shower and curl my hair. Date with Ken? Sometimes. However, I much prefer Derek from Barbie and the Rockers.
So would Barbie be proud? Probably not but she would still invite me to social gatherings. Barbie is a friend to everyone afterall.
How does my life compare to Barbie’s life? I am single like my Barbies always were, hang out with my friends, occasionally go out with a nice fellow who isn’t afraid to wear pink, and try to always have a smile on my face. I don’t live in a dream house, wear a formal gown on a Tuesday, drive a convertable or live off of plastic food but I think Barbie wouldn’t be too disappointed and neither am I. I think living a dream life is just being happy with what God has given you.
My Life With Freckles 
