Monday, November 24, 2008

Hope

Hope
George Frederic Watts
1885

I was watching a really assinine program on TV the other day called "The Real Housewives of New York City". I have never seen a more shallow, self-serving bunch of women. The series is described by Bravo TV as "Fearuring an elite and powerful set of New York socialites as they juggle their careers and home lives with busy calendars packed with charity fund-raising galas, the social whirl of the Hamptons, and interviews for elite private schools. These driven and ambitious women show everyone what it takes to make it in the upper echelon of society, where money and status are an essential way of life. The series takes an up-close and personal look at a lifestyle where private chefs, Au Pairs, front row seats at Fashion Week and Hamptons estates are part of everyday life. The Real Housewives of New York City follows five glamorous Manhattan women - Alex, Bethenny, Jill, LuAnn, and Ramona - as they balance motherhood, demanding careers, and a fast-paced social calendar, and shows what life is like in the most exclusive areas of New York."

It was horrible ... It was like watching a train wreck, but I couldn't tear my eyes away.

However, my favorite of the five women is Countess LuAnn de Lesseps. She's not quite the real deal; she did not come from an aristocratic background before she married Alexander Count de Lesseps of the Suez Canal Dynasty, and really, how many Countesses are named LuAnn? But she definitely is a cut above the rest of the women in the group, and she has an understated style and taste that I like. She is very involved in charity work, and particularly with young women whose lives have been derailed by drugs, alcohol and other bad choices. As Countess LuAnn de Lesseps says, "It's not how far you have fallen, but how you get back up."

I think in some way all of us can relate to that. I have certainly gone through some low times in my life. Fortunately I never resorted to drugs or alcohol, but there have been times when I thought nothing would ever be right again. And like the "pay it forward" philosophy, sometimes all it takes is a small amount of encouragement and a kind word from someone else to get us back on track. It gives us hope. But I must confess, I am not as diligent about this as I should be. There is a lot (lot!) more I could be doing to help people who are less fortunate than I am, so I thank Countess LuAnn de Lesseps for reminding me of that.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Harpies all,except probably the countess.

But I'm a product of the Fifties, and I love canal jokes.

"I simply love canals," gushed the countess Enterprisingly as the big ship went by."

Charles Gramlich said...

These shows are really obnoxious to me. I don't think they show women in a very good light.

Leslie: said...

I like what she says about it being how you get yourself back up.

Deb said...

I confess, I watched this too, but refused to watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta because I really could not take the ridiculous life styles and the overbearing entitlement going on. (that is really a long sentence!)
the original was much better, the Orange County housewives. The moms were actually endearing.

david mcmahon said...

Does the Countess ``count'' her blessings?

Hilary said...

I don't think that's the kind of show I'd want to see, but this Lu Ann seems like a bright spot.

Dr.John said...

That is just another " reality" show that I don't watch.

Adventure girl said...

I have never seen that.

RiverPoet said...

Ooooookay. Countess LuAnn, eh? Amazing. It's good to know that at least they are showing someone who has a heart. I have a soft place in my heart for addicts, as I have seen substance abuse take down a lot of people in my life. I love watching them climb back up out of the gutter.

Peace - D

the walking man said...

I wonder what the REAL housewives of New York would have to say? You know them that are the majority, that never get to a gala or the Hampton velvet rope parties.

I saw about 10 minutes of this a few months back and was glad that BRAVO was not a part of my subscription service.

eric1313 said...

I really can't get into these shows. I just can't relate to them...

But then again, I relate to shows about extra dimensional travel and possible alien species, so that doesn't say much...

Anonymous said...

Hey,

How about Rosie and Barbara?

Some sign of reconciliation.

But fight, ...ches.

I hate peace.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is love. Thanks for reminding us about what we should be doing.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Hi Jo
I've been away for a couple of days and was so happy to see you changed your mind on a long sabatical. I agree with your previous post that its not easy to always blog and if you can't sneak on during work time you don't always feel like doing it late at night. Although I sometimes give a lot of info with my photos, my escape clause is the fact that I have a "photo blog' so if I am lazy or out of time I just stick on a photo and not much else. On the point of responding to comments, mmm.... Now there is a bad habbit I need to overcome. I do respond some times, but it must be lazyness and lack of time. I will try and follow your example by responding as much as possible. Just to say again, I'm glad you didn't leave. Just take it easy and don't feel forced to post every day if you don't have time. And thanks for popping in on my blog (I would have put my link here, but I still need somebody to tell me how to do a link in a comment *anybody*) every now and then. Its always lovely to have you.

Anonymous said...

Structure, structure, art demands structure--at least that's what they say about my novels.

The masters of painting surely knew this. Your "Hope", by George Frederic Watts could well have been a model for
old Pable Picasso and his "The Old Guitarist" painting.

Just hold a mirrror To Watts' painting and then turn your eyes to the Picasso print.

Remarkable resemblance now to The Old guitarist painting.

But a guitar instead of what looks like a lute in the Watts painting.

Ah well. I have trouble seeing some mornings.

Seems even Picasso copied some earlier masters before he went bananas.

Or I have gone bananas.

Mommy Jo said...

Greetings from another Jo! Lovely blog!

Anonymous said...

Okay, and why did you watch it? And watch all of it? Funny how stuff like this captivates and repells at the same time, isn't it?

Yolanda said...

I so agree with you on this topic.I am glad to have found your blog.

Jo said...

Ivan, you are too funny... :-)

Charles, they show women in the worst light possible! Phew!

Leslie, yes, that impressed me.

Deb, the only one I have seen was New York, and those women were awful, awful, awful!

David, *heh* Yes I think she does!

Hilary, it was like watching a train wreck,in slow motion.

Dr. John, yay! I don't watch them either. Now I know why!

AdventureGirl, trust me, you are not missing a thing!

RiverPoet, yes, some of the girls she was helping were very sweet, and were definitely on their way back up!

Mark, yes, these broads, er, um, housewives were definitely in the minority! Even their kids were awful.

Eric, I love, love, love shows about time travel. NOW you're talking. :-)

LGS, yes, it was the one bright spark in the show, hearing Countess LuAnne talk about helping people.

Firefly, oh yes, sometimes I don't have time to respond to everyone, and sometimes I don't have time to visit all my favorite blogs. *sigh* And then when I do, I have to play "catch up" because I have missed so much. I love your travelogues of South Africa!

Ivan, you are very, very(!!!) perceptive. I would not have noticed that if you had not pointed it out!

Mommy Jo, welcome! I will be over to visit you. And thank you!

XUP, Oh, yes, as I said... it was like watching a train wreck. I could not tear my eyes away.

Yolanda, welcome! I will be over to visit you too. I always enjoy meeting new people.

Kym said...

I have watched all three and I have to say that it has become such a sad society for television when shows reduce programming to such shows as these. Orange county was just stupid, New York was horrible and I found the Countess to be a bit uppish, especially when she was explaining to one of the other New Yorker's to not acknowledge the limo driver because he was "the help"...I do not want to even get started on the Atlanta version, that was like outrageous...to say the least..

I must have become an old fuddy duddy, because I would rather not watch television anymore...reading is one of my favorite hobbies...