Movie
Life Goes On, Season 1
Plot
A drama that ran in hour segments from 1989 to 1993. One family, living in the Midwest discovers what it means to blend two families
under one roof: a step-daughter (whose mother abandoned her at the age of four), a Down Syndrome son, and a daughter. The family goes
through many modern-day struggles as the children grow and the father follows his life-long dream of becoming a restaurant owner.
Starring
Bill Smitrovich, Patti LuPone, Chris Burke, Kellie Martin, Monique Lanier, and more.
Defining Moment
Life Goes On was not only entertaining, but it was very educational. Each episode tackled important family issues with sensitivity, humor, and
strength of character. Issues like living with a Down Syndrome child, raising a step child, giving children space to grow up, fighting
for a cause, starting a new business, dating for the first time, dating someone who is HIV positive, the marriage of a couple with Down
Syndrome, and committing oneself to someone with full-blown aids.
In episode 20, Becca’s ballet teacher, Mrs. Dubcha, gets Alzheimer’s and has a hard time dealing with the reality of her disease. Her
only nearest relative decides his life cannot be interrupted with caring for her so he pawns her off to a retirement home with so many
rules that she feels imprisoned and alone.
But the Thachers refuse to give up on her. They continue to visit her, hoping to cheer her up. After a recent visit, Corky asks his
father, “Are old people sick?”
His father replies, “Not necessarily.”
“Do they get dumb when they get older?” he asks.
“No, of course not,” replies dad.
“Then why do they play stupid games like Simple Simon and Bingo all day?” he asks.
“Because someone thought it would be good for them,” replies mom.
“But why can’t they do things they like?” Corky asks.
“Well, uh…(silence)…got me there,” replies dad.
“Mrs Dubcha dances and she teaches right? Then why don’t they let her teach dancing?”
“Oh, Corky, that’s a brilliant idea,” replies mom.
And with that thought, they head down to the retirement home to convince the Director of Activities to allow her to teach. The Director
doesn’t think it’s a good idea and dismisses the thought.
“Mrs. Dubcha is like me. There’s something wrong with her, but there’s still a lot of things she can do,” says Corky.
“Have you ever done anything that inspired you? Made you feel your life was worth living?” asks mom.
“Yes, that’s why I work here,” says the Director as she walks out to her bingo session.
As she reads the numbers, she looks around and sees the sad and bored faces of the residents. She stops the Bingo game and asks Mrs.
Dubcha to teach dancing instead.
Mrs. Dubcha’s face lights up, the residents get in position and smile as she says, “Stand up straight. We don’t want to look like what
they think old people look like. Posture is grace. Grace is magic. And magic is dance.”
This particular episode hit home because my grandfather developed a severe case of Alzheimer’s before he passed away a few years ago. He
was a brilliant man with a sharp mind, prior to getting Alzheimer’s so it was devastating to watch him slip away. Then there was my
mother. She developed several complicated health problems that ultimately took her life on March 10, 2006 at 58 years of age. I can still
remember my mother commenting on how useless she felt because her body wouldn’t allow her to do all the things her mind wanted to do.
In both cases, Corky’s statement rang true, “There’s something wrong with her, but there’s still a lot of things she can do.”
This episode leaves one wondering: “What more can we do for the living when their bodies begin to fail them? Should we toss them away
like garbage simply because our lifestyles won’t allow for the time or burden to care for them, or can we alter the way we live so that
they can continue feeling as though there’s a reason to live?”
Your Task
This week, instead of watching your favorite drama, pick up a copy of Life Goes On
and open your mind to the world around you. Do you have a preconceived notion about a person based upon his physical appearance, a
certain disability, the area of town he lives in, or where he works? Watch Life Goes On and use the episodes as learning tools to help
you open your mind and change your way of thinking.
Order Life Goes On today!
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