My parents visit maybe once a year. And I visit them in Right County even less. During each of their visits, I have to explain how the remotes work.
But the worst part is finding mutually agreeable tv shows, news & movies for all of us to watch.
While I prefer CNN, NBC, The Daily Show & The Colbert Report, my parents prefer Christian Broadcasting Network/News and Fox News. Christopher Guest’s movie, Waiting for Guffman hit too close to home for them.
I’m not sure when it happened, but early on, I just told my parents, “sorry, we don’t get Fox in Oregon. It doesn’t qualify as news here.”
Dad gave me a sheepish grin … and said “ok”.
On one particular crazy visit with all 3 kids graduating to the next school, I reminded Dad how the remote worked.
Dad said “how about Fox?”
“Sorry, we don’t have Fox News in Oregon.”
I resigned to the office to join a friend and finish a project when Glenn Beck crooned as if he is in the next room!
Glenn Beck? Are you kidding me? In my house?
I jump up, threw open the office doors. Truth be told, I’m lucky the glass in the doors didn’t shatter. And, well, I probably yelled something not very nice to my dad. Ok, I’m pretty sure I yelled something. And there sat my dad, remote in hand as he raised his eyebrows, tongue in cheek with an impish grin. It only took him about 8 years to find Fox in Oregon.
Growing Up Right 