There are so many things I love about this photo of Grandma and Grandpa. Mom’s written on the back that it was taken circa 1973, so a good 11 years before I was born.
First, the obvious.
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I spent a good deal of this past year with the Golden Girls. In the winter, when early sunsets and hibernating friends precipitated a hardly thrilling evening routine, I turned to my complete series collection. The collector's item, a gift from my brother, is housed in a replica of Sophia's wicker purse, as if its contents weren't fabulous enough.
Through hours on my couch I really got to know Dorothy (Bea Arthur), a cranky no-nonsense divorcee, substitute teacher and oversized-frock-wearer; her mother Sophia (Estelle Getty), a diminutive, wise-cracking Italian mama with her family's best interests at heart; Blanche (Rue McLanahan), a southern belle who prides herself on her appearance and enjoys the company of gentlemen from time to time; and Rose (Betty White), a naive if-not-too-bright Minnesota native with a heart of gold.
From start to finish I experienced the highs and lows of these independent women of a certain age, who share a house in Miami. They work, they go on dates, they fight, they have sex. They live life just like any self-respecting single woman might even though they're -- gasp! -- past mid-life.
Though a TV show starring four normal-looking older women probably wouldn't make it to air today, Golden Girls solidified its place in TV history with seven successful seasons between 1985 and 1992, and 11 Emmy Awards, including one for each of its four main stars.
Just as much as the show was considered groundbreaking, it remains hilarious and heart-warming, without pandering to its audience.
Need proof? Well, okay. Here are 12 lessons I gleaned from the fab four.
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