Honesty

I spent this last weekend in Philadelphia visiting some of the people nearest and dearest to me. In the course of the weekend I got in a discussion with a friend about TV shows. I admitted that I LOVE Boston Legal. My friend didn’t. I couldn’t but my finger on exactly why I like it so much until tonight.

I was riding home on the train and two guys were talking about all the women in their lives – those they are using, those they used, and those who won’t stop calling. It was a real degrading conversation to be subjected to—as a woman.

In the course of their conversation one of their cell phones rings. They guy looks at the number and says, “I shouldn’t even talk to this one. I tell her not to call anymore and she just doesn’t listen.” He then picks up the phone and talks to her in his nicest voice. He tells her he’ll be right over, etc., etc.

So . . . back to Boston Legal. I figured out why I like it so much. It’s full of dreadfully honest people – so honest that they have to be eccentric or we couldn’t deal with it. Allan Shore tells women he’s involved with that they enter the relationship at their peril because he is a deeply flawed man. Coworkers are honest about their motives. Friends are honest with each other about short comings and short-sighted behavior. It’s a comedy because it’s so brutally honest, we have no choice but to break out in nervous laughter.

So, I got to thinking, what would our lives, our relationships be like if we just let our intentions and short falls be known all along?

© Michelle Scott 2005