The Consolation of Netflix
The time is one o’clock in the morning. I check my phone, but I am not stunned at what I see. It is a Tuesday night, I have a nine thirty in the morning, and yet I carry along to the next episode of Gilmore Girls; Fully knowing what is to come because I have seen every episode at least four times. “How come I never get sleep?” I ask, while my face is lit up by my computer screen. I remove my headphones to hear the Friends’ theme song coming from the other side of the room from my roommate’s computer. Feeling justified, I do not think twice about falling into the world of Star’s Hollow to find out what the Gilmore Girls are up to. Then suddenly, my computer screen is slammed shut by an unannounced visitor in my dorm room.
“Now, how is finding out if Rory is going to choose Dean or Jess more important than resting up for your classes in the morning?” asks Lorelai Gilmore. I cannot believe it. Here in front of me is the Lorelai Gilmore. I have watched her drink unimaginable amount of coffee, learned from her many relationships, and longed to have her wardrobe.
“Lorelia! It is really you!” I exclaim loud enough to expect a knock on the door from the RA of the floor below me.
“Yes, it is really me. Now snap out of it kid, I got a lot to talk to you about. Do you realize what time it is?”
“Well, yes but I get done with classes early enough tomorrow so I can come back and take a nap,” I try to explain to her.
“Well alright then, is your homework finished?”
“Not yet, but I am going to do it right before class I should be able to finish it in time.”
“Here’s where I am getting at kid,” explains Lorelia. “How much time do you spend on this thing and how much time do you spend reading your book for your Great Books class?”
“I try to balance them out. I read during the day and watch netflix at night.”
“When do you sleep?”
“ I sleep when I sleep okay. A cup of coffee goes a long way, you of all people should know that. What are you trying to say? Are you telling me that I should not be watching Netflix?”
“I am not at all kid, proper entertainment is important, and you obviously have good taste. All I am saying is, let’s think about how much time you spend on this thing.”
“Well, when is a good time to watch netflix?”
“Remember when you went through that terrible breakup? You watched the Rory and Dean break up scene over and over again. Or when you first started college, you watched Rory going to Yale and gave yourself too high of an expectation of college. All of these are good times to watch Netflix. When you are swamped with homework, tests, papers, that is not the time to sit and watch hours and hours of Netflix.”
“So you are saying, there is nothing wrong with watching Netflix?”
“Of course there is nothing wrong with watching Netflix at all, in fact kid, I encourage it. Just make sure that you are still having a life while watching my fabulous one as well. Oh and another thing, maybe start watching with friends, you know, so I can see that you actually have some.”
“I definitely have friends! But I see your point. Netflix is great, as long as I do not over abuse my power.”
“There you go kid. Remember, you got a great thing here, just try not to use it as a crutch to avoid life. Yes, sit and binge Gilmore Girls or whatever less phenomenal show that is also on Netflix, but try to live out some of the awesome adventures you see us having.” With that, she sat down a cup of coffee next to me and vanished away.
Still stunned, I think long and hard about the wisdom that was just imparted on me. Was she right? Of course she is right when has Lorelai ever steered me wrong? Besides the fact that she gave me an unrealistic view of dating, everything else has been spot on. Reluctantly, I set my computer to the side, take out my headphones, and try out this idea of actually getting some sleep. Who knows, maybe I will wake up in the morning not so tired. Well, I did say maybe.
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