If you or your kids are looking for an idol these days, good luck. Every time you turn on the TV or read the newspaper, it seems we’re bombarded with bad news about another star or public figure gone wrong. Here’s what I mean.
“Hey, honey. Anything good on this week? How a about a good comedy?” I ask my husband.
“Well, there’s Two and a Half Men.”
“Ugh. I can’t watch Charlie Sheen. His rap sheet is longer than the number of diets I’ve tried and failed.”
“OK. How about, 30 Rock?”
“No, I can’t get that nasty phone message Alec Baldwin left for his daughter out of my head. How about a drama?”
“Well, there’s 24.”
“With Keifer Sutherland?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, is it back on? I wasn’t sure if he was out of jail yet.”
“Yeah, he’s out.”
“Pass. What about sports?”
“Well, Tiger is playing again. Wanna watch golf?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m still kicking myself for buying that picture at the football auction of him and Michael Jordan on the golf course. Ah, forget about TV. Give me the newspaper.”
“Sure. Here you go.”
“Oh, look at this. Another priest is being accused of being a pedophile.”
“Great.”
“Yeah, and are you ready for this. Some high school coach slept with one of his players.”
“What’s wrong with these people?”
“I dunno, but it’s pretty darn depressing. I mean, who do these kids have to look up to? When I was a kid my idols were Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. I don’t know if they led stellar lives, but they certainly look like angels compared to these people. Who was your idol?”
“Bobby Orr. He was incredible. And, he still seems like a good guy.”
“Yeah, it’s a sad, sad, world we live in today.”
“You got that right.”
“Hey Tyler, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Who’s your idol? Well, I never really thought about it, but I don’t think I really have one.”
“See. Even he realizes there’s nobody to look up to.”
“What about us?” my husband dryly inquires.
“Yeah, Tyler, what about us?”
“You can’t look up to your parents. I mean, you’re my…my…parents.”
I give up!
