GENERAL HOSPITAL

I first started watching GH more than 40 years ago in 1977 when I was 11 years old. I fell in love with Genie Francis and her character Laura. When I entered 6th grade in 1978 until I graduated high school in 1985, I was bullied daily for 7 years. I endured verbal, physical and emotional harassment every day.

My way of coping was to escape into the world of entertainment. Music, Film and Television was my salvation. I was able to find solace in the every day lives of the characters of Port Charles on GH. I remember Laura wishing on the star on her Christmas tree and I would wish also. I found comfort in the antics of the Quartermaine family and could escape my daily torment with the adventures of Luke and Laura.

I have continued to watch GH over the years and currently have watched consistently for the past 6 years.

In our current climate of watching daytime television along with social media, it is refreshing to be able to interact instantly with the actors, writers and executive producers. When I started watching 40 years ago, I would write letters via snail mail to the actors and the production staff. I enjoyed hearing back from the actors and receiving autigraphed photos. I had the pleasure of writing to executive producer Gloria Monty back in the day and received a few letters from her in return. I always felt my praise, ideas and suggestions were being listened to and valued as an audience member.

I say all of this due to so much of the negative and disparaging comments viewers have posted on social media regarding the actors, writers and producers on all the daytime shows but specifically GH. I would like viewers to realize the actors are just playing fictional characters in a fictional city on a fictional television show. The storylines are not real but the actors are real and are human beings. They should be treated with kindness and respect.

I would like to say thank you to all the actors, writers, producers and the entire production staff and crew for bringing us General Hospital on a daily basis. 

And by the way, can you bring Rebecca Budig back as Hayden Barnes?

Thank You!!!