#SongoftheDay A Tribute to Nerene Virgin: Jodie from Today's Special on TVO

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Nerene Virgin, who played Jodie on the TVO children's show Today's Special, died last month. If you grew up in Ontario in the 80s, chances are you watched this show. Apparently it was broadcast on other stations later on, but I have no idea what its reach was, ultimately. I heard the guys mention Today's Special on Rifftrax once, and that blew my mind. I really thought Today's Special was an Ontario-only thing. I couldn't believe Americans knew about it.

I wish I had something more coherent to say, but my chronic pain is flaring and it's messing with my cognitive function. The person who made this video expresses it best, anyway, by highlighting gratitude. My childhood was full of challenges and trauma, but Today's Special was a balm. It really was.

As I was searching for a clip to show you, I came across excerpts from an episode where a friend comes to the store with a flask in his pocket. Throughout the evening, he's drinking in secret, and he becomes at first manipulative and then belligerent. As this guy was yelling at one of the characters on the show, I remembered watching this episode as a small child--as the child of an alcoholic who could be not only cruel and manipulative, but also physically violent and destructive. 

I'd never seen this issue addressed on TV before. It hit home so hard that I'm crying even now, just thinking about it. I knew what Muffy Mouse felt like when she was trying to take instructions from this drunk man, and he just kept screaming at her that she was doing everything wrong. I knew what that fear felt like. And they did such an excellent job in showing how abusive adults manipulate children into keeping their secrets, convincing us (because there's still a part of me that's an eternally frightened child) that if we tell anybody what's really going on, other people's lives will be ruined and it'll be all our fault. Not the adult's fault for doing the bad thing, but the child's fault for seeking help.

Anyway, enough of my trauma. I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt seen while watching Today's Special. I hold immense gratitude toward everyone who worked on that show. Thank you for helping little me when I really needed it.


If you're wondering how you can support me in bringing you songs and anecdotes, the easiest thing you can do is buy my books (most are for adults only!) or check them out from your local library. 

Supporting my AudioErotica endeavour on Patreon would also help me hugely.

I'm also an Amazon Influencer, so hopefully I can make a little pocket change when you buy stuff by clicking through my affiliate links.

I also recommend subscribing to my newsletter. I generally e-mail subscribers with a weekly update, and I would LOVE to have you on the list. 

Click here to sign up: http://eepurl.com/R4b11


See you soon!
Giselle


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