For some reason, I can’t seem to avoid watching TV on Thursday nights. For a little while I was using Thursday night as my night out (a bookstore, coffee/dinner out with friends, shopping, etc.), but I’ve reverted back to my old ways. Ever since the Friends/ER combo I got hooked on way back in the college years, I just can’t stop watching. I don’t watch ER anymore… I know it’s still on, but it got old a LONG time ago. Friends will always hold a special place in my heart… I got through college and the early post-college years watching it. I always watched with my own friends… and post-college when my friends had spread out around the country I still watched it with some of them via phone (I so miss those talks… relaxed, fun, and continued to help me feel connected to my best buds despite the miles between us… it was good to feel like we were still together). Thursday night TV has always been an “I’ve almost made it to the weekend” celebration. A time to chill and enjoy friends…

Now, as the lineup has moved on (well, except for ER), so have I. I still watch to chill and have a few smiles, but my shows have changed. I now watch Survivor and Grey’s Anatomy (I could be happy watching most of the offerings–Ugly Betty, Kitchen Nightmares, My Name is Earl, The Office–but I’ve settled on these two shows for now). They help keep me connected with my younger, more carefree years. Unfortunately, I don’t watch with my buddies anymore (well, Mr. Wonderful will watch with me on occasion… but that’s not the same as watching with girlfriends), but there’s not a Thursday night that goes by that I don’t think of the Thursday nights gone by. And that makes me smile…

So, to all my former Thursday night TV buddies… thanks for the smiles! I’m still watching with you…