…From Hallmark movies.
Since I celebrated Halloween by getting a knee replacement,
I’ve spent considerable time on the couch watching TV. When I learned that a friend’s romance novel
was made into a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, I had to watch it. Though it was a departure from my usual LAW
AND ORDER, or CRIMINAL MINDS reruns, or from 90 DAY FIANCE, a reality show that
for some reason has me in its thrall, I found myself not only watching that
movie, but all the ones that came after it. Then I moved on to Lifetime Movies
and a channel called UP.
My sleep schedule is in chaos and I can’t really do anything
that doesn’t involve the couch, so I watched many, many movies. I might have
dozed off during some, and I’m sure I haven’t seen them all, but I did begin to
notice a distinct and disturbing pattern.
Maybe it bothers me more because I’ve been thinking about
how nice it would be to live in the city.
My husband and I went into Manhattan for our anniversary--spent the night
and saw a show. When I mentioned how much fun it would be to live there, he questioned
my mental health.
But, if I lived according to these aforementioned movies,
it would be perfectly fine for me to live in the city because I’ve already met
the love of my life. These poor women on
TV who have successful if stressful corporate jobs and nice apartments in
whatever big city are missing out.
What they need to do is spend time in an obscure little
country town, either trapped there by transportation problems or some sort of
family obligation. (For some odd reason,
the people in these towns all go caroling.
I have never seen anyone caroling here in the suburbs. The whole town population—which
isn’t a lot because these are really, really small towns—turns out for the
lighting of the Christmas tree on the town square. There is also usually a wise
but crusty elderly waitress, or innkeeper, or grandpa, or whatever.)
Once the women have been exposed to this laid-back
lifestyle, they realize that the man they thought they loved is a stuffed
shirt, too attracted to money and appearances.
Or his family will be horrendous snobs who scoff at any display of
holiday spirit on the part of the heroine.
The man and/or his family will hate dogs, or be allergic to dogs, or both.
The woman will realize she has an unexplored but burning
desire to do something besides corporate life, such as open a bakery or run a
bead and breakfast. And though she is
conflicted, she will realize that the man she met in this small town is the
perfect match for her.
Maybe I just missed the movie where the female corporate
exec finds love in the big city with an equally successful but kind and loving
man. It has to be out there somewhere,
doesn’t it?
Lol. You just described every book I've ever written--why hasn't Hallmark snapped them up?
ReplyDeleteI love this in a book! But for some reason watching these movies all in a row really brought home how attached they are to the theme. You should pitch your books to Hallmark!
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