Listening to Marriage

I don't know how to explain it now. The TV show was broadcast a long time ago. And I tend now to remember with intensity the Miles v. Michael battles over almost all else. But I am particularly fond of this show as it was the only show that my wife and I watched together and talked about together. It deepened our relationship and provided us with common ground and perspective. It was a finely crafted show, but this side-effect is what, for me, made it literature. It stands above their other work: My So-Called Life and Once and Again and Family. And that is hard to do. Herskovitz and Zwick have never been embarassed by their concern for and interest in other people and I think that it was the seriousness with which the characterizations were developed that got it the reputation of being "whiney." Is it possible to hold to and deepen our humanity by exploring our condition? Are the Psalms "whiney"? Once and again in our so-called life together my wife and I will still refer to Michael or Hope or Elliot or Nancy -- or Miles.