..but holy crap I am home and I am inspired.

Happy Birthday SG!  I wish this woman a happy birthday every year.  While I have never met her, she saved my spirit.  At this point you may think that I am crazy so I will start from the beginning...

In 1985, I was in the second half of the 7th grade.  It was really bad.  My family had moved during the previous summer (from a smaller school) and transitioning to a new school was the hardest experience that I have ever been through.  (Yes, I am comparing my entire life to this time..nothing has ever been as hard as 84-85.)  I was 12, very awkward and uncomfortable in my own skin.  I felt socially stunted and academically, I was struggling.  It was very hard to get up in the morning and move forward.  Nothing inspired me.  This was a time when the prominent female figures were Mary Lou Retton, Sally Field, Cyndi Lauper and Geraldine Ferraro..and nothing.

During the Monday night of my February vacation, I settled in to watch some television.  My station of choice was CBS--this was an era when you didn't channel surf.  Starting at 8:00, I watched Scarecrow and Mrs King (meh), Kate and Allie (Kate was cool..Allie was a dud) and Newhart.  The last show almost made me go to bed..it was funny but incredibly sedate.   I was half asleep when the last show starts but as soon as it does, I am wide awake.  I am not sure if it was the story line or the timber of her voice but holy crap I am home and I am inspired.

Cagney and Lacey was the show that made me sit up.  (In a nutshell for the young people, it was a show focused on two female detectives in Manhattan.) Specifically, it was the character of Christine Cagney (portrayed by Sharon Gless) that got my attention.   In a matter of minutes, I wanted to be Christine.  She was very smart, funny, sarcastic, mean and so flawed but I felt like she was me.  And I was her.  This wasn't a Lifetime movie, this woman had issues all over the place.  During the entire series, she had a boyfriend who was a druggie, was sexually harassed at work, shot, raped (not at the same time) and had a drinking problem.  But regardless, she inspired me.

It did get weird.  Back then there was no Internet so I squirrelled articles and pictures of Sharon Gless thinking that she and Christine were one and the same.  I was obsessed and carried on and on about this woman.  A 12 year old carrying on about a 30-something?  Again, it was weird but I didn't see it and I am glad I didn't.  This woman got me to look forward to every Monday. I just needed a small step.  I got to see every tribulation that she experienced.  (AND, she was an amazing dresser.  My style..all Christine Cagney to this day.)

For many years, I have celebrated May 31 because this was Sharon's birthday.  I thank her.  I will never know her..but I am indebted.