And So Are the Days of Who's Lives?

Ever since the day I came home from the hospital with my mom, I've been watching Days of Our Lives (DOOL). Of course, as a newborn, I wasn't the one choosing to do so. My nanny, however, was a committed fan. I have gone through stints of dedicated viewing to months of time off. But one thing is for sure, the days of the lives of people in Salem are not like the days of my life here in Midwestern small-town. But just for fun, think of what life would be like if we really lived in a soap opera.

The first difference is something I like to call the "I am my own sister" phenomenon. Really, is it possible to design a family tree for the entire web of characters on a soap opera? I've been watching DOOL for literally all of my life, and I never really have grasped who's related to whom. Just when I think I've got it figured out, there's a love story between two people that I thought were first cousins. And then it turns out that they may be first cousins, but not by blood because someone's mom died and their dad remarried the step-mom. What??? Yeah, it's too confusing for me, too.

Another difference is the amount of drinking that takes place. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is not the norm to have a tray with a bottle of brandy, ice chest, and glasses sitting in your living room. And in the middle of the day, who just randomly starts drinking straight liquor while plotting to take over the world? If you know anyone like that, I'd be leery of his or her company.

How about the justice system? Maybe I'm naive, but can judges be bought that easily? I hope not! It seems as though the justice system serves as a story driver and not a story ender. Some judge makes a bad decision, wrongly convicts an innocent person of murder, gives custody to the wrong parent, or lets a guilty villain walk. However, it does seem that someday/year, sooner or later, the truth will come out. Perhaps you'll have to wait until other stories run out, and who knows how long that could take. Yes, it may be true that Billie slept with Nick who wants to date her daughter Chelsea. I know that Phillip and Victor payed off the judge to get custody of Claire when it's really Shawn's daughter and not Phillip's. When does the madness end?! Rest assured that eventually everyone will find out the truth and the truth will set them free. That is...until there is a new slew of cover-ups.

How many of us normal folk live in lavish apartments, mansions, and multi-level homes. Have you ever noticed a television in any of the rooms? What kind of lifestyle has no tv! The common appliances that traditional American homes have are often no where to be found in these glamourous homes. When do these people clean, cook, or do laundry? I think I wouldn't mind that part of the lifestyle.

Regardless of the alternate reality that these soap stars live in onset, I will venture to say that the everyday life the rest of us live isn't so bad. I think that everyday, non-dramatic life would be a little less stressful than the hyped up craziness of day time television. But, for an hour in the afternoon, it's not so bad to get away into that alternate reality and see what the other side lives like.