My mom was watching Scrubs with me this evening. One of the extra characters, Laverne, was killed in tonight's episode. My mom sobbed. The show is a touching one and I was sad to see her written out of the show.

I tried to hug my mom but she still continued to sob. I said what she used to say to me, "it is a tv show and they all go out for coffee afterwards". My mom surprised me when she answered, "not to me. They are real".

I enquired, "what do you mean they are real. It is a tv program." She said, "not to me. It is all I have".

This is very melodramic but you should have been there for this comment. I really didn't know what to say. Does she really think that it [characters on a tv show] is all she has? The guilt of living abroad for the past four years kicked into full swing. How sad if she really thinks this is true. Should I try to return in order to be there for her more?