What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly and Sonny arrive at the church first. A photo of Mike in his tux at the Nurses Ball is on display, along with the flowers. Sonny thanks Carly for putting the photo in a frame. She says she loves that picture of Mike; it shows his personality. Sonny says he stared at Mike’s face for months. He wanted to connect, and there were moments, but… When first saw the picture, it was like something he forgot, but he sees it now. It’s like, oh yeah, it’s his dad.
Ava walks in, and they thank her for coming. Sonny says he appreciates everything she’s done for Avery, and she says she’s glad they can do this together. Kristina comes in, followed by Sam and Jason. Sonny asks how she’s holding up, and Kristina says she’s pretty sad. It helps to know Mike’s not hurting or confused anymore. Sam says if they need a break, she and Jason can greet people, and Jason says, whatever he needs. That goes for Carly too. Sonny asks them to stay close. Dev and Brando are next, and Dev says, Mike was an amazing person. Carly says Dev was good to Mike; Mike loved seeing him. Brando says he was glad he could connect with Mike again, and be back in his life, even for just a little while. Sonny says he’s glad too. Sonny hugs Olivia, who says Sonny was a good son to Mike. Sonny says, not always, but Olivia says, don’t go there. He was there for Mike when Mike needed him the most. Ned waits quietly, and Sonny thanks him for coming. Willow and Michael arrive, and Carly says it’s good to see them both. Michael says if they need him or Willow to do anything, like greet people… but Carly says Sam and Jason already offered. Michael asks how she is, and she says she’s hanging in there. Michael tells Sonny that he loves him, and Sonny says, that’s what gets him through it.
Stella lights a candle, and Carly thanks her for being there. Not just because of what she did for Mike, but for the entire family. Stella says, Mike was an amazing human being. It was gratifying to see him surrounded with love, and given a peaceful passing. Sonny says Stella taught him how to help Mike in his last days. He appreciates that, and won’t forget – ever. She says he’s very welcome.
Josslyn comes in with Jax, and hugs Carly. She tells Sonny that she hopes he knows how much she loved Mike. Sonny says his dad loved her too. Jax says he’s truly sorry for their loss, and Sonny thanks him. Brook follows, and tells Sonny, Mike was one in a million. Diane hugs Sonny, and says he has her deepest condolences. Carly thanks her, and Sonny says, thanks for defending Mike, and cleaning up his messes. She says it was her honor to help, and Sonny excuses himself. Diane asks how Carly is doing, and Carly says she’s fine. Diane says she can’t imagine any of this is easy. She know Carly has friends and a support system, but if she ever needs a drink or five, and needs to vent, she’s there. Carly thanks her.
Sonny tells Elizabeth that he appreciates how good she was to his dad. She cared for him, and visited him at Turning Woods. She went above and beyond. Elizabeth says, Mike was important to her too, and Sonny says he also wants to thank her for speaking up during Mike’s last trip to the hospital. She advised Sonny that he shouldn’t put a feeding tube in Mike. He guesses he just wanted Mike with him so bad, and she let him know it wasn’t fair. Elizabeth says she’s glad if anything she said was helpful, but she thinks Sonny would have come to that decision on his own. He was in tune with his dad. Sonny says he hopes he did what Mike wanted, and Elizabeth says, it’s an awful, relentless disease. It would be understandable if he’d pulled away when Mike deteriorated, but he didn’t. He never faltered, and gave Mike the best of himself. He has nothing to regret.
The priest tells everyone to be seated, and Michael goes to the front. He says, behalf of the family, he thanks them for being there to remember Mike, and celebrate Mike’s life. Celebration is key, as they know Mike loved to party. He’d like them all to raise a glass, watch a baseball game, or a horserace in his honor. It’s okay to cry. Mike would be fine with that, as long as they laughed more. That was Mike’s way. Mike went through hard times, some of his own making, and had a lot of regrets, but his grandfather never shied away from life or played it safe. He took chances, and gave generously. He failed at times, but knew in the end, it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s the people you know along the way, and the lives you touch. The ones who you love and who love you. He loved all of them very much. Michael goes over to the casket, and touches it.
Olivia tells them, she wants to say a few words about Mike on behalf of her son Dante, Mike’s oldest grandson. Dante only got to know Mike after he’d been diagnosed, but they managed to form a special bond. She feels like she’s known Mike all her life. He was a generous man; easy going, a glass half full kind of guy. He had a fierce temper when he was pushed too far, like her son. He got in a scrape with the law, and had to spend a night in lockup. Dante spent the whole evening in lockup with his grandfather. She figured Dante was being a nice guy, but he told her it was a privilege to spend the night with Mike, just to be able talk and spend time together. She cries a little, and says, the thing about that night… Time spent with Mike was never wasted. Their lives are much richer for having known him.
Ava gets up, and says she’s there on behalf of her daughter Avery, Mike’s second youngest grandchild. Avery adored her grandfather; it was a mutual admiration society. When Mike was able to, he played tea party with her, pushed her on the swing, helped her blow bubbles, and told her marvelous stories about when he was a boy. He talked to Avery about horses; she liked that. When he moved to Turning Woods, Avery looked forward to her visits with him. She was never frightened. Even when he wasn’t as able to focus or communicate, he always had a big smile for her. He was truly the bright light in Avery’s life, and she knows Avery will never forget him.
Elizabeth is next. She says Mike was around a lot when she was a teenager. He watched her, Lucky, Emily, and Nikolas strolling through their high school adolescence. They always had problems and personal drama. Looking back, Mike was a wise man with a lot of experience to share. You’d think he would have jumped in and told them what to do, but he didn’t. Instead, he listened and offered support, and let them figure out how to do it on their own. It wasn’t until years later when Mike came back to Port Charles, that she realized how much she missed him. She flashes back to Mike telling her that she’s impossible to forget. She calls him a charmer, and he says, for now. In time, he’ll forget her. At least that’s what they tell him. It’s a damn shame. She tells them, sometimes he struggled to recognize her, but when he did, he’d give her that smile, and it was like no time had passed at all.
Brando gets up, and says he didn’t get a lot of time with Mike; in the summer when he was a kid, and the last few months. Enough time to teach Brando the important things. First, family. Family matters, even when you wished they weren’t your family. Second, you have less time than you think. Don’t waste it carrying grudges, and trying to control things you can’t. Third, everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them; wisdom comes from experience. Make the most of learning, be kind and tolerant. Mike knew how to value what really matters.
Jason goes to the front, and says he met Mike at Luke’s club. Mike was tending bar when Sonny gave Jason his first job there parking cars. Mike was easy to work with. He always liked Mike and considered him a friend, but it wasn’t until a couple years ago when he started to appreciate Mike’s courage. Mike made a terrible mistake when Sonny was a kid. He couldn’t face his failure, so he ran away. He could have run forever, but he didn’t; he stopped. Mike made his way back to Sonny, and tried to make amends. It wasn’t easy for Mike or Sonny because Mike made a lot of mistakes, but he never quit. Sonny flashes back to Mike saying Sonny doesn’t owe him anything. He abandoned Sonny, when Sonny’s mother left him for that bastard Deke. He should have done better. Sonny says, he tried, but Mike says, not often enough. He tried to watch out for Sonny. Jason says, Mike had true courage. He had the strength and humility to face the damage he’d done. He refused to give up on the people he loved, or himself. Mike was one of the bravest people he ever knew.
Stella takes the podium, and says they’re a profoundly lucky group. Most of them knew Mike for many years. She had the privilege of calling Mike her friend for a short time, and what a friend he was. Even as he struggled, he took the time to cultivate people. He cultivated her. No visit passed without an in depth inquiry about her life. He helped her when she was down, and celebrated with her when she was up. He was an extrovert in the best way. He couldn’t help but engage and connect. There were facets of Mike she wasn’t privy to. Every family has tension, and he never pretended his was ideal. He had loyalty, and fought a decades long battle with a gambling addiction. When he returned, Sonny was with his father every step of way. She flashes back to telling Sonny, no one can overpower Alzheimer’s. It doesn’t bend to anyone’s will, not even his. He can’t help his father if he can’t help himself. She says, no one can beat Alzheimer’s, but Mike hung on for as long as he could for Sonny’s sake. Sonny chose to let Mike leave with dignity. In her book, father and son fought Alzheimer’s to a draw.
Sam goes up, and says she appreciated Mike’s great sense of humor, and the way he never ever judged anyone. He didn’t assume to know anyone’s motives, and never put himself in a position to criticize their choices. He knew they all have faults, and they all do things they regret, but if you take a second to laugh at the situation, even if it’s at yourself, you can find perspective and move forward. It may not be what you wanted or how you planned it, but you adjust and keep going. And that’s the example Mike set for her; one she’ll always treasure.
It’s Carly’s turn. She says, when Sonny brought Mike home after he was diagnosed, she was terrified. Terrified of the disease, and what it would do to Mike. She was afraid of Mike deteriorating, and what it would do to her family. She wasn’t sure she could handle it. She couldn’t have been more wrong. There were hard and painful moments, but so many wonderful times when Mike was still himself. The pleasure of his company during holidays and family gatherings. They were only complete because he was in the room. Even when he started to slip away, he still loved great music, good food, and being with people he loved. Shortly before he passed they got him to the track to be with the horses he loved. He was so present, alert, and aware that afternoon. It was Sonny’s idea. Sonny was the one who cared for Mike, and mended what was broken between them. Sonny was the one who gave Mike the forgiveness and love he needed. She tells Sonny that she loves him, and he mouths, I love you too.
Sonny gets himself together, and goes up front. He says, it’s been a difficult week. He didn’t think he could come up there. He still doesn’t know if he can, but he had to come up. He wants to thank everybody for coming and being in his father’s life. They had the most beautiful words for his father. For years, he had a lot of bad feelings toward his father. He couldn’t see Mike for who he was. He didn’t want to. He had his own issues for a long time, and couldn’t admit it. He had a lot of anger, and all he did was judge. It took this illness, Alzheimer’s – one of the hardest things he’s been through – to see his dad for who he was, an amazing man. He’s so proud of his dad. He didn’t make it easy on Mike, but he was there for Mike in the end. And the most beautiful thing is, Mike was there for Sonny in the end. Carly smiles through her tears, and Sonny says he’ll always be grateful for that. He looks at Mike’s picture, and says, I love you, dad.
Josslyn gets up next. She says, Mike loved music. He said it was one of the great joys of life. It could make a good moment better, or a bad moment bearable. He said it can fulfill you when nothing else can, so this is for him. She sings (sounds like the title is Stronger Than Before, but I really have no clue), and flashes back to Mike telling Dev to be a gentleman and get her home safe. As Josslyn sings, Stella recalls Mike asking her to promise when he can no longer remember her, that she’ll remember how much he wanted to. Michael remembers Mike telling him to do them both a favor, and live a long full life. Carly flashes back to Mike saying he wishes he could click his heels together and find his way back to himself, and her telling Mike that he’ll always be him. He’ll always be family; that’s all that matters. She puts her arms around him and Sonny, and kisses their cheeks. Sonny remembers Mike suggesting they head to the city and take in a game at Yankee Stadium. Sonny says Mike used to promise that all the time, and Mike says, now they can do it. Sonny says, deal, and they shake hands. Josslyn starts to cry as she sings, but makes it to the end of the song.
Carly asks if Sonny thinks it was the right decision, putting Mike next to Morgan. Sonny says, the way he sees it, Mike and Morgan are together. It was a good service. Everybody wasn’t just saying words; they really appreciated his dad. She says his dad had a lot of friends. So does he. People will be showing up at the MetroCourt for the reception soon. He asks if she can get a ride. He’d like to take a minute alone. She tells him, take all the time he needs. I guess they’re not going to the cemetery first?
Sonny sits, and says, it’s time to let go, dad. Ain’t that a kick in the pants? For so long he pushed Mike away, and now he doesn’t want Mike to go. Because of his anger… He can’t take it back now. Mike sits next to Sonny, and says, do him a favor. Don’t be romanticizing him. Sonny had every right to that anger. Mike walked out on him. Sonny says he keeps seeing Mike like he did when he was a little boy. It took him a long time to understand life doesn’t give you what you intend. It makes you do things you don’t want to do. He never had the right to judge Mike. He should have respected Mike coming back. He should have told Mike that he loved him. Mike says he did. Sonny showed him in a thousand ways, big and small. Sonny says, not soon enough, but Mike says Sonny took him back. Over and over, Sonny paid his debts, bailed him out of trouble, and sent him to rehab – more than once. He brought Mike home to be with his family while he could still enjoy them. The greatest thing Sonny did was forgive him. So now he wants Sonny to forgive himself. Sonny says he should have been better. Mike says he loves Sonny. Sonny supported him, and stayed with him to the end. No child can do more than that for their parent. It made him very proud. He touches Sonny’s arm, and gets up. Sonny says he’s going to miss Mike, and Mike says he’ll always be with Sonny.
Mike kisses Sonny’s forehead and walks to the door. Sonny watches him go outside. Mike puts on his sharp cap, says, I love you son, and disappears into a bright light. Sonny says, I love you too, dad. He blesses himself, and he’s about to leave, when Dante walks in.
Very nice episode.
Tomorrow, Ava tells Trina to use her anger, Lulu asks if Dustin is ready to take the next step, Jason tells Brando it’s Sonny’s call not his, and Sonny tells Dante that he’s right on time.
👬 Double Duty…
All about Ryan Chamberlain. I love Jon Lindstrom in these roles. You know he’s having a good time when he’s Ryan.
😥 Another Daytime Loss…
I kinda sorta remember him from somewhere. Such a shame.
📺 Tonight on Bravo, Craig and Sonja watched, and made commentary on, the season 3 finale of Southern Charm, when Kathryn had it out with Landon at some party. This was followed by Best of Leah Moments, with Leah, Ramona, and LuAnn watching remotely. I felt like I just saw all that, and wondered if they couldn’t have come up with something more creative. Leah talked about her first season experience, saying the first words that came to mind were batsh*t crazy. Ramona actually seemed more likeable, which was odd. Both she and LuAnn agreed Leah handled the reunion well. It had been the first in-person reunion since the pandemic, and Leah said it meant a lot that it was in person. Her final words? I came, I saw, and bitch, I elevate this sh*t.
🍹 Southern Charm’s new season begins Thursday, October 29th, 9 pm. It’s a shame Naomie and Cameran won’t be on this time around, but I’ll mostly miss Naomie’s boyfriend Metul, who introduced me to butter chicken.
https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/southern-charm-season-7-cast-premiere-date-trailer
🗽 But Will She Make It Nice…?
They all say they keep it real. My jury is out until I see it.
🥾 A Salute…
Some ladies you should know about.
https://www.aish.com/ci/s/The-Unsung-Black-Female-Soldiers-of-WWII.html
✈️ Jetting…
It was a lovely funeral, but I must say goodnight. Tune in tomorrow for Friday’s GH, tea, and knowledge. Until then, stay safe, stay authentic, and stay refusing to give up on those you love or yourself.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 