Uncle Fester's Toupee & learning to be yourself
Dear Fiends,
In this episode, Uncle Fester needs a toupee to meet his pen pal, who he told that he has beautiful hair. He apparently also told her he played college football, which is easy to believe given his physique. The point is, he said he was someone who he was not, and obviously that doesn't get you far.
In this case, it's just as well. Shallowness brings shallowness as we see his pen pal is only trying to find a 6th husband to drive to being unalive, and presumably take all his money. It's an age old story of the value of being yourself. Unfortunately, we live in a world where everyone touts that wisdom but very few practice it. And the ones who do get punished. This is why the Addams Family is so important.
Even in the 1960's, we see that people needed a role model to fight against the stigma of what is "counter culture." Counter culture has become such a dirty word, but the fact of the matter is, it's these break away, more accepting cultures getting loud that help us evolve into a kinder and loving society. Addams Family being on mainstream TV is a signal that people needed a voice and representation. This show helped mainstream conservative America see that you could be wholesome, loving, and family oriented even without Christianity and typical patriarchal values.
To me, the most important part of this episode is that even though Uncle Fester normally is very proudly strange and kooky, even he has insecure days. Can you believe it? A broad, sexy, electric man like Fester even gets low self esteem and yearns to fit in sometimes! And, he's basically perfect!
Luckily, his family, his support network, reminded him that he deserves love for exactly who he is, and I hope you remember that too. Confidence is not a thing that once you get it, it stays permanent. Like anything else about being human, it's a fluid range of ups and downs, narrow and wide. So don't punish yourself for wanting to fit in sometimes. Social pressure is a helluva powerful force. But self love can be stronger and more rewarding if you are willing to put in the work. And when you inevitably fall short sometimes, as we all do, know that your fiend family has your back. We see you for who you are. We love you for who you are. We believe in who you are. No toupee is necessary.
The Addams Family was and is so important to the cultural landscape. This show taught us to love, respect, and value one another regardless of how you look and your interests. Above all, it teaches us to love and believe in ourselves first and foremost, because we deserve to occupy space, and we deserve love too.
Stay cool, fiends.
Much love,
FF & JohnPaul
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