Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Northern Exposure is the Cure

Last night I had one of my rough nights. I usually wake up around 1 am and stay awake until 7 or so. I am exhausted and in pain but can not sleep. Usually these nights the only thing besides pain pills that will soothe me is Northern Exposure. I can listen to this show for hours with my eyes closed, contemplating life, my injury and Joseph Campbell. (last night episode was a discussion of the hero archetype)

So while I was awake last night I started to search the Internet about my favorite show. I am a major fan and most of the information I already know but last night I stumbled onto something new. I found out about a musician who became seriously ill and heartbroken. He retreated to Wisconsin to recover and one of the things that brought him out of his illness was Northern Exposure. He ended up naming his band after a saying from one of the shows, Bon Iver . I have never heard his music but hearing about someone who has been touched by this show in a dark period in their life made my heart flutter. Here is another person that took the dark journey of the soul, found Northern Exposure and was able to translate it into a new path in life. Also, having lived in rural Wisconsin myself during my early 20's I of course loved the fact that he watched this show while living in his father's remote cabin in Northern Wisconsin!

I hope to one day to meet Justin and be able to express to him how Northern Exposure helped me while I was bed ridden for a year and also suffering from a broken heart the year before that. It has been my lifeline in so many ways and I am so excited to hear of other creative people that are as moved by the characters, story and just overall sense of community that was developed in this show. Plus in my fantasy life, Justin will turn out to be as interesting as Chris in the morning. ( but alas, I know this may not be true!)

But I will just settle to at least meet another Northern Exposure fan who can tell me about their impressions and favorite episodes!

2 comments:

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Who is Blue Hippo Baby? said...

I am a Northern Exposure fan, Lady! Go Marilyn :-) I recommend people with Summer SAD watch it...it also carried me through some dark days. Also love bluegrass music...there is a big bluegrass music scene in one of my books "Ella Kowbella" a hootenanny scene ...maybe if I can make it back east we can go to one!! Or if I make it up to Seattle before you leave.