One of my favorite shows right now is One Day At A Time a modern remake of the show to fit current times. We have the rambunctious dancer Lydia, suave and cool teenager Alex, high strung lovable Elena, dorky but kind Schneider and then we have Penelope aka Lupe.
Lupe is not one of those perfect moms and that is what I love about her. She is rough around the edges, takes no bullshit from anyone but has softer spots especially when it comes to family. Lupe is a veteran nurse from the army where she was stationed with her husband at the time Victor. After returning home from the wars, Victor developed a drinking problem whereas Penelope developed anxiety and depression. As Lupe moves on with her life we pull back layers
I know that feeling of not wanting to get out of bed or dealing with people. It is not that you don't want to but you cant. Your body feels heavy, your energy is beyond low, you can't stand the sight of light or food. You do not mean to push people away but the darkness creeps up and you act unlike yourself. As a person that is creative I have two moods, days of writing and letting it flow naturally and then other days when I am weeping with a blinking cursor begging for a word.
So when the episode Hello, Penelope aired on Netflix, I stopped mid-episode and sobbed because I admired Lupe but to watch her be vulnerable broke my heart. Justina Machado did an amazing job with this episode with the small moments. Her tearing up about the dress, and then admitting that she knows she is blessed, she cannot explaining the overwhelming sadness. Trying to do this sucks because I have been through this where I would start crying but I am married to my best friend, raising a gorgeous smart little diva and blessed with a group of friends that mean the world to me! However, that feeling ... its there and yes some people can do without the pills but some cannot.
Her portrayal should win her all the awards for its authenticity and I thank the writers of the show for its hard work!
Go watch this show!
Cant wait for season 3!