Confessions of a Downton Abbey Addict

My name is Wynter and I am an addict. My drugs of choice aren't substances or pornography or gambling. I am hooked on Mary, Matthew, Edith, Cora, Mr. and Mrs. Bates, Daisy and the like.

Thankfully, my addiction isn't a harmful thing except that I have turned down a few Sunday evening social invitations in order to stay home and indulge! But it's okay because the show has so much going for it, I don't mind occasionally forgoing live human contact in order to watch.

Besides, I think Downton's success has had some very positive effects on the viewing public. First of all, it's gotten a whole lot of folks watching who've never given public broadcasting a second glance. Yay for that!

The show has risen above the Honey Booboo-esque reality shows that are contributing to the dumbing down of the US. Hopefully Downton Abbey will set a trend -- a raising of the bar of the caliber of television programming.

I know I am not alone in my addiction because the show's market share is high. So step up and admit it. Are you addicted?

Giving In

My trip to the eye doctor last week was eye-opening. Literally! I had to face the fact that I am getting older. Yup - reading glasses. Now I've worn contacts for years - since my college days. And several years ago my friends started taking out cute little pairs of readers at dimly-lit restaurants to read the menus. I'd compliment the glasses and mention that I still didn't need reading glasses.

Well, those days are over. Now I am the one who has bought half a dozen pairs of Foster Grants and stashed them around my house so I can read a recipe or a paperback or a bill.

It's time to face it - I must give in to this damn aging thing. At least now I can read the instructions on how to do it!