In 1963, I sat on the floor of my cousin's living room and colored while around me, the adults watched the funeral procession of John F. Kennedy. I was four years old. There is no way I could have known the significance of that event, but I can still clearly see that television in my mind. I can still clearly recall, as if it were yesterday, how sad I felt for that little boy because he looked so lost and alone.

I am a part of the first generation who grew up with television as a daily part of our lives. There is no doubt that we were - as individuals and as a society - profoundly affected by what my dad used to call 'the idiot box'. I have seen wonders I could never have imagined, shared in griefs that I'd never have known, laughed myself sick over total inanities and been touched by the writing and acting of literally hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

In many ways, my life has been defined by television. At six, I knew that it was bathtime when Chet and David said good night. By thirteen, I could stay up till the News at Eleven. Sunday nights meant Ed Sullivan, which my grandmother watched faithfully because she loved Topo Gigio. Later, Saturday nights brought me John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase and the rest of the Saturday Night Live crew. As simplistic as they seem today, I learned valuable lessons from The Brady Bunch, One Day at a Time, The Facts of Life and Family Ties. I learned negotiation skills in the battle for control of the channel knob (I'll do the dishes for three days for your half hour!).

Those were the small defining moments, but there were larger ones as well - moments that brought an entire nation together, glued to our televisions. In 1969, I watched 'one small step for a man..'. In 1986, I watched with stunned awe along with millions across the country as the space shuttle Challenger burst in an eerily beautiful explosion in the beauty of a winter sky. In between, I prayed with millions and held my breath as rescue workers attempted to free a little girl from a well half a country away. Other moments were as surreal as those were touching - the long-distance slow-motion police chase of O.J. Simpson comes to mind.

Television has contributed new words and concepts to our language. Slo-mo, instant replay, Nielsen ratings, sweeps week, infomercial. And it goes on - just last week my 15 year old snorted in disgust at something I said, and commented, "That's so after-school special, mom." The scary part was - she was right. I am a product of my upbringing - and part of that included the daily fare that poured from that little blue screen.