Welcome to another edition of Kay's Korner.
I had a wonderful thing happen to me a few months ago. My cousin's daughter called me and told me about a birthday party that she was throwing for her mom. I had hoped that I would be able to go but living in Tennessee now offers challenges amongst which are several hundred miles between us. Thankful the stars were lined up just right and I was able to not only go to my cousin's birthday party, but also watch Smackdown with my Grandpa.
I've mentioned in previous columns that my Grandpa and my Dad are responsible for the wrestling junkie that I am. Saturday mornings were spent either at my house, with Dad, watching wrestling or at my Grandpa's house, watching wrestling. Watching with either one of them always made my day but being with Grandpa watching it was extra special.
Grandpa always 'believed' in wrestling and I have to say that he still does. He doesn't have the internet; I don't think he would even know how to cut a computer on. He doesn't have cable so his wrestling fix is took care of with the shows that happen on regular television such as Smackdown. I didn't have to tell him what time it was because at five minutes till eight, he was turning the television to UPN. (FYI, currently Smackdown is now seen on the CW network.)
This was the first time that I've spent more time actually watching my Grandpa than I did the wrestling. Don't get me wrong; I watched it but I was more interested in watching his reactions. The one rule that has always been in effect is that you do NOT talk when there is wrestling on the television. Commercials are when you got to chat a bit and I was proud to see that rule is still in effect. (Grandma had quite a bit to say about the Diva Search but more on that later.)
My husband always accuses me of 'ignoring' him when wrestling is in and, to a certain extent, there is some truth to that. However, my Grandpa is the one that taught me how to do that and for that, I will have memories of him for as long as wrestling continues. Grandpa is the 'master' of 'ignoring' when wrestling is on the television. He never really says a whole lot but his facial expressions tell me exactly how much he enjoys a match.
As I sat there, I couldn't help but smile. There I was watching wrestling with my Grandpa once again. All was right in my world that night. I live 6 hours away from him now so the fact is that I don't get to watch it with him as much as I would like to. However, I do have the memory of this night and this night will always be extra-special to me.
You see, Grandpa actually talked to me during the commercials about what he liked and didn't liked. He told me how much he likes Rey Mysterio which surprised me. Grandpa is totally 'old-school' so for him to like Rey so much was a bit of a shock to the system. After the shock wore off, I was engaged in a nice five minute conversation about Rey and his storyline with Chavo which Grandpa doesn't like.
Grandpa still believes in 'good guys' and 'bad guys'. If you are a 'bad guy', then my Grandpa does not like you. (Man oh man, did he hate Flair in the Four Horseman days.) He talks as if it is real and being his granddaughter, I sit back and just listen because it reminds of being a child again.
The only problem that I have is that I do have internet access (among other things) to teach me that wrestling is pre-determined. I would never EVER tell my Grandpa that. I would never EVER want to see his face fall though I have to tell you, I imagine he wouldn't believe me anyway and would argue with me over the subject. Therefore, for the sake of family, I quietly sat there and just soaked it all in.
Grandma is what I like to call a 'forced' fan. She's never really cared that much for it but she does watch it. She doesn't really have a choice but to watch it if it is on. Now granted, there's not a whole lot on television that either one of them really like to watch other than Wheel of Fortune and Judge Judy. She sat there quietly for the most part until the Diva Search contestants came out.
This is the one time that I can remember ever talking during wrestling but in my defense, the Diva Search contestants weren't wrestling so I didn't get in trouble with Grandpa for it. Besides, he was too busy staring at the TV to really hear what we were saying. Needless to say, I found that I had a bit in common with my Grandma on that particular subject.
I'm not a big fan of the Diva Search. I don't see that changing any time soon. I honestly believe the Diva Search is more for the male fans than it is the female fans. I'm going to be bluntly honest here; Grandma did NOT like it at all. I enjoyed discussing how much I didn't like it with my Grandma because she's GRANDMA. She tells it like she sees it and honestly doesn't know any other way.
The only thing that could have been perfect would have been if my Dad had been there. Grandpa and Dad always have something to talk about with wrestling and I enjoy listening to them talk about it. Dad is smart to wrestling having worked a few Indy shows here and there over the years, but he doesn't really go into detail with Grandpa with what he knows. I'm actually glad that he does that because it's nice to see 'kayfabe' alive and well. It's almost refreshing to a certain extent.
I think I will always miss the good ole' days of 'rassling'. Seriously, I have nothing but fond memories of that time in my life. I can remember matches and events that happened as if it were yesterday. It was like my mind had a recorder going anytime something unique happened. It is also where I have to thank of my Dad and my Grandpa for molding me into the fan that I am today.
I respect the business of wrestling. I respect the danger that is involved with entertaining me that way. I respect the sacrifices health wise and family wise that are made by the wrestlers. I also respect that the fact that I don't really want to know everything that is going on in wrestling. (I like moving into the 'suspense of disbelief' mode and enjoying wrestling the way it was meant to be enjoyed.)
Watching wrestling with my family is just an added bonus. It's getting about time to watch some wrestling with my Dad. It's getting about time to sit down and have an honest to God wrestling conversation with my Dad. My Dad and I can talk literally for hours about wrestling. It's one of the things about my life that I cherish the most because no matter what, I've always got something that my Dad and I can talk about. Always.
I'll take the memories that I have and the ones that I have yet to make and hold them tight. It's family and wrestling all in one. How does life get any better than that?
That's it for this edition of Kay's Korner. Thanks for stopping by! All feedback can be sent to lilwrestlegrl@yahoo.com.
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