BBC Comedy Shows and What I Learned From Them

"Waiting for God" now there was a wonderful learning experience. Diana Trent was a woman's libber's dream. With a rough exterior shown to the world at large, inside of her dwelt a heart of gold.

She fought injustices and rallied to the causes of fairness to humans who deserved it. Diana had been a photographer/journalist who hung out with fellow journalists in foreign bars hoping to run into Ernest Hemmingway before he did away with himself. She had lived an exciting life which was now reduced to life in a retirement village. No wonder she was bitter with a repulsion to growing old.

She lived at BayView, a retirement village managed by a young, handsome egomaniac by the name of Harvey. She'd give him a swipe in his you-know-what whenever she had the chance. Harvey would fall to the ground writhing in pain much to our pure delight. Diana had a relationship with her fellow tenant, Tom, who lived right next door and they shared a patio together where Diana would paint pictures that wouldn't sell and Tom would have imaginary affairs with Golden Age Hollywood movie stars and fill Diana in on their antics. He would also

climb imaginary mountains and sail imaginary seas. After forty years of being an accountant, could you really blame him?

Then there was Jane, Harvey's assistant, who hid behind a door when God handed out the good looks. Gentle, good Jane worshipped Harvey. Actually Harvey relied on Jane a lot because only half of Harvey's brain was in working condition. Harvey drew the boundaries for Jane. Jane longed to just touch Harvey, but was not allowed to. Once in awhile she forgot herself and her

hand would land on his arm or shoulder. "Jane, you're touching me!" he would sternly remind her and she would quickly remove her hand.

In the last episode Jane and Harvey became husband and wife, and it was very evident that Jane was not the shy little mouse that even she thought she was. We were all so glad for Jane, knowing that she would be the brains in that family, but she would never let him think that he was.

Diana's investments went bad and she lost her savings. Tom invited her to move in with him, and she reluctantly agreed to. They fought like cats and dogs, but really adored each other. Tom wanted to marry Diana, but she wouldn't hear of it. But they took care of each other in sickness and in health, for better or for worse but without any formality or legality. True love, to be sure.

I learned from Waiting For God that living in a Retirement Home can be a lot of fun if you are armed with a cane, a sense of humor, a stubborn attitude and a never-say-die outlook on life.

Now I have 69 episodes on DVD's of Are You Being Served? to go through.