just maintain a true perspective...

It's funny how perceptions can shift as perspectives change. The other day I wrote about my renewed appreciation for Judy Garland's talents. Originally I admired her with the undiscerning appreciation of a child; now as a mature adult with a wide experience of watching and listening to many different performers my admiration has more weight behind it.

Re-reading favorite books or re-watching old TV shows and movies can also yield either fuller appreciation or unhappily, disillusionment with one's youthful favorites. I am pleased that my favorite authors have been able to withstand the test of reacquaintance and I still savor reading through Jane Austen and Betty Smith. Old sitcoms don't always wear well though. A few years ago a cable channel was running episodes of My Mother the Car, a show I loved at age seven. I think I particularly enjoyed singing along with the theme song; the lyrics appeared at the bottom of the screen with a bouncing ball leading the way. Surprisingly, forty years later I found the show just silly and not very clever.