Today I was saddened by the passing of a distant oil owning drunky drunk uncle.

When I think of my formative years, I think of the 1980's.  Today I was saddened by the passing of a distant oil owning drunky drunk uncle.  Larry Hagman was not related to me but he did contribute to my small family.

I can't remember when it started but there were so many Friday nights when my mom, sister and I would watch Dallas.  Perhaps it was the excess of the era or the cheap story line, but regardless, it was cheesy entertainment that all three of us liked.. Looking back, I am happy that we sat together in a half done family room in our basement.  Maybe there was popcorn or a Ben and Jerry's pint...it was a time that I am grateful.

When I watched Dallas, as I growing girl, I had so many questions.  Why was Pam so bland and thought cool?  Why was Charlene deemed so slutty looking (when I thought most school girls wanted to look like that)?  Why was Sue Ellen a drunk when everyone else seemed to drink the same color liquor and just as much?  And most of all, with her money, why was Miss Ellie so dowdy? Come on!  You own the ranch!

I loved the glamour of the show...how JR wooed his secretaries during a time when they were called secretaries.  And I believe is wooing now is called sexual harassment.  Big hats, big boots on the men and big shoulder pads and big boobs for the women....all wrapped with the awesome overtone of 80's trumpeted score.

This show represented my pre teen years...I experimented with so many shoulder pads, rainbow eye shadow and lots of hairspray.  Thankfully, I never tried to make my boobs look bigger.

While the time is labeled the decade of excess, it was a pretty mild time.  There were no hair extensions, fake tans, or Botox?.  You didn't look at some one's nice house or car and question if they were in debt up to their eyes?  This time was so different from the excess of today...

Without getting detail of comparing the mild excess of the 1980's and the insanity of present day, I thank you Larry for playing an over the top character and giving me a nice moment with my family...that Phillip Caprice ending that we always looked forward to.  Trashy show but it's ironic what can bring a family together.

Rest in Peace Larry Hagman.