#492 Wings

Some of you may have caught on that a lot of my blog titles are song titles or relate to music in some way.  Music plays a huge role in my life and I like to challenge myself to make it relatable to just about anything. 

If you thought that this particular blog title has to do with Paul McCartney’s band from the 70s, you’re wrong.  The title also has nothing to do with birds, eagles, or fairies.  This blog is about my favorite sit-com of all time. 

Wings ran for eight seasons from 1990-1997.  The most well-known cast members are Tim Daly (Joe Hackett), Steven Weber (Brian Hackett), Crystal Bernard (Helen Chappel), Thomas Haden Church (Lowell Mather) and Tony Shalhoub (Antonio Scarpacci).  The show was about the Hackett brothers and their small airline, Sandpiper Air, on Nantucket Island.  Helen ran the lunch counter at Tom Nevers Field.  Lowell was the mechanic.  Antonio the cab driver.  And let’s not forget Roy Biggins (David Schramm), who ran rival airline Aeromass, and Fay Cochran (Rebecca Schull), Sandpiper’s lone employee besides the Hacketts.  Other characters are Alex Lambert (Farrah Forke), Brian’s girlfriend for part of the series, and Casey Chappel (Amy Yasbeck), Helen’s sister, who appeared on the last three seasons.  (Brian Haley replaced Thomas Haden Church as Budd the mechanic on season seven, but the poor guy didn’t get much air time.  And he was no Lowell.) 

Why do I love this show so much?  It has the perfect mix of witty repartee, silly comedy, a thread of sexual tension, and a lot of heart.  The characters are outstanding and play off of each other perfectly. 

The Hackett brothers are great looking and direct opposites.  Nice-guy Joe is responsibly trying to run the airline and has to deal with Brian returning to the island (after running off with Joe’s fiancée).  Brian is bent on having as much fun and the least responsibility possible. 

Helen is somewhat neurotic but yet totally relatable as the chronically single woman trying to find her place in the world.  Will she die a lonely, old woman with her cello?  Will she end up with Joe?  Or business man Davis Lynch? 

Roy is the evil nemesis but still lovable at his core.  He never fails to bring the perfect zinger at the perfect time. 

Fay is just so out there; you can’t help but love her.  And when you think she can’t be any more bizarre, she is the voice of reason.  She survived several husbands and her full name is Fay Evelyn Schlob Dumbly DeVay Cochran. 

Antonio appears in season two and becomes a regular in seasons three through eight, adding another layer of amusement, almost matching Lowell.  Almost.

What can I say about Lowell?  Lowell is a simple man who works for both Aeromass and Sandpiper.  He has a unique outlook on life and the world.  He doesn’t always get the jokes he is the butt of.  Lowell left the series in season seven, entering the Witness Protection Program.  A sad day at Tom Nevers Field and on the island. 

I watched Wings during it’s original running years, and also loved watching it again in syndication.  During the mid-to-late 1990s the USA Network ran it twice a day.  Two back-to-back, half-hour episodes in the morning, and two more in the evening.  I loved the show so much I wanted to keep them for my future entertainment and began recording them on a VCR.  I kept a written record of the episodes I had already recorded, so whenever there was a repeat, I would delete the extra.  I ended up with 10 VHS cassettes. 

I threw out my paper list of episodes,
but did write them on each VHS tape.  

When I moved into my current house, I stored these tapes in my basement.  They sat there, untouched, for 20 years.  I had a VCR up until a couple years ago, but never watched the episodes.  I guess there were too many other things to watch.  A couple years ago, a friend gifted me the complete Wings series box DVD set.  I’m sure much better quality than my VHS collection.  Still, I didn’t make time to watch it. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I had worked at home for a few days, I lamented the lack of background TV shows during the afternoon.  The usual, “So many options but nothing on.”  Then I had a eureka moment – I could watch the entire Wings series!  Which I did every afternoon from mid-March to early May.  I was right back in it – laughing at the right moments and finishing their lines. 

During a time of uncertainty, I looked forward to my daily dose of hilarity while getting my work done.  I guess you could say that Wings carried me up and away from the worldly troubles for a few hours a day. 

Thank you for flying Sandpiper. 

#491 Who Let The Cat Out?

 I don’t have any pets.  It’s not that I don’t like animals – I love them!  But I have been known to say, “I like other people’s pets.”  I grew up with pets that lived inside of a bowl.  When I was around 10, I found a puppy down the street and my mom let me take him home until we found a home for him.  He whined so much, especially in the mornings when he needed to go out.  I hate to admit that I was relieved when he was gone.  Apparently sleep outweighed cuteness.  Occasionally someone will tell me I need a dog or a cat.  Selfishly I don’t want to have to be home at certain times to let out a dog.  Cats take care of themselves, but there’s still food and vet bills.  So I continue to enjoy other people’s pets. 

While Aaron and Tracy were on their honeymoon, I looked in on their two cats, Butler and Lulu.  Butler, Aaron’s cat, is friendly and snuggly.  (His name comes from the fact that he looks like a butler.)  Tracy’s cat, Lulu, likes to be left alone.  Each night after work I stopped at their house to get the mail and hang out for a while. 

I will admit it was nice to have “someone” to come home to.  Butler was happy to see me and we’d snuggle in the recliner for a while before I’d let him out.  (He is like a dog in that sense.)  He’d purr, lick my fingers, bite my jewelry and then just chill.  I’d let him outside, read my book and about 10 minutes later I would hear a faint scraping sound, which was him wanting back in.  I was a little nervous he wouldn’t come back, but he has a Tabcat pet tracker on his collar.  Even though I don’t really know how to use it.  Lulu made a couple appearances, but when she saw me, immediately went back to the bedroom. 

The week went smoothly.  Butler usually stayed outside no longer than 10 minutes due to the cold temperatures.  After that he’d hang out with me while I read, and I’d head home after about 30-45 minutes. 

Sunday, my last day checking on them, was a lot warmer – in the 60s and sunny.  I stopped on my way to a meeting and of course, when I had to be somewhere, Butler didn’t come back in right away.  Ten minutes.  Fifteen minutes.  Twenty minutes.  I opened the front and back doors and called for him.  Then I Googled the Tabcat thing and watched a video on how it works.  The lights flash more the closer you get to the cat.  Thankfully, Butler returned and I had plenty of time to get to my meeting. 

I’m back to being on my own.  I do miss that little furball.  Maybe one day I won’t be so selfish with my time or money.  Or I’ll marry someone with a pet.  Until then, I’ll have to wait a while to get more kitty snuggles.  

Butler likes a high perch

#490 My Sweetheart

Two years ago, my niece, Megan, got married.  This past January, it was my nephew Aaron’s turn.  Most couples get married in warmer months, so when they announced their wedding date, I asked him, “Why January?”  I received a typical Aaron answer, “We don’t like to be hot.”  It’s true – they don’t.  Aaron sweats like crazy.  When he played outside as a little boy, his thick brown hair was always soaked.  So, January it was! 

They put together this "puzzle" during the ceremony.  

Their ceremony and reception were held at The Nest Event Center.  Just as Megan’s wedding was held on a beautiful summer day, Aaron’s wedding was on a beautiful winter day, complete with a sprinkling of snow flurries.  It was a nice day for a white wedding. 

I'm pretty good at the married couple shot.

Most marriage vows include the words, “for better, for worse.”  Despite the joyfulness of Aaron and Tracy’s wedding day, there was an underlying sadness.  Tracy’s father, Harley Bontrager, passed away unexpectedly at age 66 exactly one week before their wedding.  My heart broke for Aaron and Tracy, and for Tracy’s sisters and the rest of their family.  I am so proud of how they handled themselves.  They took the worst thing that could have happened, leaned on each other, and created a special day.  

I am so happy for the sweethearts, and wish them God’s blessing on their marriage.  Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Godby!