Dearest Prairians, For those of you who’ve asked, I’m finally feeling better. This cold walloped me. I just got my voice back yesterday. No fun. But I am better today and that’s good. Praise be. So, I shared some thoughts on Facebook the other day and I’ve found the responses to be kind of amazing. Two really stood out- one was from my pal Mary McDonough who played Erin on the Waltons. She said she experienced the same thing and feels horrible still. The other was from a friend who is a high school guidance counselor who’d be legally obligated to report a relationship between a 14 year old and a 22 year old. I debated sharing this with you because I don’t want to burst any little house bubbles but, this is the safe place where we share things and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Here’s what I posted: Things that make you go hmmmmm.... A couple of days ago while flipping through channels, we came across the little house episode 'Back to School:pt1'. Specifically, the scene where my character, Laura ,meets Almanzo for the first time and mistakenly calls him "manly" Two things jumped out that I had never really felt or noticed before- One, in hindsight it's all pretty ICKY. Watching it now has made me sooooo unconfortable. I mean, I was still, clearly, a little girl. A little girl who is also clearly pretending to feel extremely unfamiliar feelings. Feelings I'd never really felt in my life and, on top of it, feelings I was supposed to have for a guy who is clearly not my contemporary but a MAN. It was so obvious that I was in way over my head. Which begs, observation number two- Why did no one ask me if it was ok? Why did no one ask f I was uncomfortable? Why was I not brought into the casting process? Finally, I posit this question to all of you- Can you imagine today, on any show or film, a fourteen year old being romantically paired with a twenty-two year old? We faked so many things on that show....couldn't we have waited until I was a bit older? Or hired someone who's age and life experience didn't frighten me? Of course I volunteered nothing at the time. Child actor etiquette dictated that I just do my job and say yes and not start trouble. I'll tell you this much- if that were my child or grandchild, there is no way it would have happened. just ewwwwwww.

Posted by Melissa "Nana Pint" at 2025-04-08 11:01:24 UTC