Oprah's Finale, A Dad's Perspective

Whenever some long-running, celebrated event is about to occur, most people want to be a part of the monumental occasion. Honestly, it’s what makes us Americans. We love pursuing greatness, even if we don’t actually achieve it.

Case in point.

I remember the day when Elvis died. Want to know why? I just so happened to be one half of a mile away from him at the time he was performing. My family was on vacation in Las Vegas when the news broke of his passing. Yes, Elvis was right down the “old strip” away from us. I didn’t really understand the full implications of his passing, but I’ve told the story a few dozen times, because it’s a cute little story that associates me with Elvis Presley.

Well, now we’ve learned that today is Oprah Winfrey’s last day on the air. You may be asking yourself, “What does that have to do with a ?” It doesn’t have much, until you consider that my daughter will be attending the same school that Oprah attended. Yes, that school. Oprah, back in the 1960’s, attended in Glendale, WI. And, my brother attended Nicolet too in the 1990’s. I know what you’re thinking, “The connections just keep flowing.”

Being frank, I’ve only watched maybe four-five full episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Anyways, two of the episodes featured Will Smith promoting a movie, one starred Garth Brooks and his family wedding, and the other show featured the Obama’s. I conveniently can’t recall the other complete shows I watched over the years.

It sort of falls in the same category as my Dancing with the Stars viewing. Although, I do know Hines Ward won this season. Which should offer some consolation after losing to the world champion Green Bay Packers in this year's Superbowl, but I digress. 

For the record, I did not DVR the Oprah show. My girl cousin told me I “just had to watch just a little clip” of the show to see <insert celebrity that may hook me>. What started out as an innocent glimpse, turned into a full viewing of the show. Okay, I’ve admitted it again. Other than that, I can’t honestly say I’ve watched too much Oprah. Of course people like my mom would mention parts of the show, but I didn't actually watch it. 

Through the ups and downs of the Oprah show, I do want to commend her staying on the air for such a long time. Many have expressed disappointment for Oprah not tackling controversial issues. However, I tend to give a pass to people who choose not to wield power (I don’t possess) in ways that benefit my causes.  But that’s a story for a different day.

Today is the day to celebrate greatness and hopefully, associate with it in a way that allows us to tell amazing stories thirty years later.

I wonder if people would be interested if I said I was only 75 miles away when Oprah filmed her last show. I know it doesn’t sound too interesting now, but wait until the story is told thirty years from now.