"the Simpsons" and "friends" are both very funny shows. both feature or featured lovable characters and heart warming relationships. i watched them both. "friends" only lasted seven or so seasons and "the Simpsons" will likely hit 20 before its cancellation (if it hasn't already).

"the Simpsons" is a cartoon, which allows its characters to remain indefinitely unchanged. no matter how stupid Homer acts or how many pigs he adopts to walk on the ceiling, Marge cleans up hoof prints and still loves him. she always takes him back no matter how stupid an act he committed. the kids never grow old, the family always stays together and the comedy never changes.

"friends" had the human factor, which is by nature flawed. everything changed constantly. we weren't happy with the show without controversy and change. but, the show ended because change was unavoidable. the characters MUST grow. the writers didn't have a choice. the characters had to both grow and remain. how complicated? i believe that is why there was always an understanding that Chandler would end up with Monica and Ross with Rachel. it was foreshadowed in the first episode and it was such in the very last. so, they changed constantly, but remained constant in the end. like i said, complicated.

so, for one show change MUST occur and the other change was impossible yet both shows were successful. but, the one that removed change from the equation remains successful. i can only ponder why, but i suppose it's because our society needs happy endings. each episode is, for the most part, a happy ending. they start off a family, there is controversy that Bart or Homer creates, then all is well in the end. they accomplish that in 30 minutes! well, probably 24 minutes to include time for commercials. it's idealized perfectly for endurance. it's what we all want. we all want love and life that is enduring and everlasting. the promise of it in a crude cartoon gives us love, life and laughter hidden inside suggestive and dirty jokes.

the creator of that show is a fucking genius.

i hope the change i'm about to make is one that was previously outlined for me. i don't like to believe i don't have control over my own fate. however, i like to think i would have bumped into my knight, whom i love dearly, regardless of location or time. i think i'm as close to "meant to be" as one might ever dare to dream. i'm putting my eggs in this basket and i'm asking that they never rot. when i say it like that, it sounds like a long shot. but, why does it feel like i am on a business trip now and i'm just waiting to go home?