Adventures in Odyssey…
I love this radio series. I listen to it now online, granted, a little less since having Samuel, but I have listened to it religiously since 2001 while at Samford University. It was my company late at night when I couldn’t call Ashley 
as well as providing me with some belly laughs at Wooten’s silliness and Whit’s amazing wisdom about life and in dealing with children. It was like living in that town and being a part of their family. It was adventurous with travels across the ocean and mysterious plots that were so complex that I would pull over in my car en route to a clinical to be able to glean all the details. Engagements, break-ups, abortion, cancer, death, divorce, sibling rivalry, etc. were all addressed…and it was just so awesome.
I remember waking up early the day of Courtney’s bridal shower and heading over to a bakery supply store when Odyssey came on in the car. It was an episode about trying to control things that we couldn’t control or manipulate. Timely, granted things got a little harried trying to get the stuff done for the shower. Many times, it has been company while I did chores…washing dishes, cooking, and mowing the lawn on Waxleaf Green. I had plenty of time to listen and had some silly laughs over Wooten’s shaving his eyebrows off or wanting to donate a kidney to lose some weight. You probably had to be there…or else you should just listen to the episode.
I guess I don’t know if I can’t really explain the depth of feeling I have for this show. The reason for all this reminiscing is that I found out one my favorite actors on the show died. He did two of the voices (Tom Riley and Bart Rathbone), and I just cannot imagine life without him in that town. I listened as people talked about him and also read about his life.
I guess it just made me wonder about my life and what I am doing. I don’t really have an answer, but it has just given me a little more determination to do something meaningful with my life that will matter in eternity, not just here on earth.
For those of you who have not listened to Adv in Odyssey lately or want to, go to http://www.whitsend.org/ to listen. They also have a weekend edition which has the newer episodes. You can also listen to them on the radio, just find your station and tune in. You’ll be glad you did. It is good family listening and discussion time. I hope to do this with Samuel as well.
Karen
P.S. Did you know that the first voice for Whit (John Avery Whitaker) was Otis from the Andy Griffith show? He said it was the most important thing he ever did. Check it out.
