atomicseasoning

This episode aired in October of 1990, about a year after the Disney movie "The Little Mermaid" which guest star Christopher Barnes had done the voice of Prince Eric in, was released, and there are vague references to the film in this episode (or at least interesting coincidences)

Chris' character "Kevin Kelly"

• Liked Minneaoplis because that's where Prince is from.

• Played on the football team for St. Sebastian HS.

• Dorothy's threat was "If Kevin Kelly doesn't play in Saturday's game, Dorothy Z. will sleep with the fishes under the sea ..."

• After "Kevin" broke his leg, Dororthy said tutoring him was like "shooting fish in a barrel."

I just recently saw this special again and it made me realize what a heart warming story it is.

Oh yes little Lucas is blinded in a thunderstorm and is taken in by an Abbey of nuns, one of which as voiced by Angela Landsbury.

I loved how Lucas had to deal with his disability while still being a shepherd, worryng about whether or not he gets to stay at the Abbey, finding the right gift for Angela's nun character, befriending a girl named Louisa, finding his lost sheep, and being in the Christmas pageant, where two miracles happen. What a story!

I loved too how they incorporated not only the typical Christian Christmas story, but also Jesus' Parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15:3-7 into the plot-line of his story, which makes it especially special.

If you can find it (and ABC Family often broadcasts this special during their 25 Days of Christmas every December) I think this is one special to watch.

Perhaps if Natalie hadn't broken her wrist, (which wasn't set right and thus left her with a weakened wrist & a bone protrusion) while making this movie, then maybe 32 years later she would've had enough strength to pull herself into the lifeboat on that fateful night in Nov. 1981... Still though it looks like a good movie in a way, and Natalie looked cute in her bunny suit. She was such a cute little girl in so many films. Also it's interesting seeing Walter Brennan in something other that just the old TV show "The Real McCoys." I'll have to see if I can find it again sometime so that I can see all of it again. I'm sure that it is a good rural themed movie to see.