I believe that Dr.Quinn is the greatest show that has ever aired television. It was a show that was done way before it's time, and forever made an indent on my life in so many powerful ways.

At first I thought I was crazy to love something like a TV show so much, and to STILL love it after almost 11 years! No matter where I'm at in life, or how old I am, I always tend to gravitate towards watching those reruns to transport me to Colorado Springs for that one precious hour when time seems to stand still.

One of my favorite memories of Dr. Quinn is when I watched it as a little girl.
When Dr. Quinn first aired, I was about 7 or 8. It was a special saturday night ritual that I treasured SO much with my mom. I would take a "saturday night bath"( because church was in the morning) and mom would serve me a bowl of icecream and she braided my damp hair to create the"crimped" effect

come sunday morning! It was a special time for just her and I, and it meant so much to me.
I have watch DQ faithfully for over eleven years now, and I will faithfully watch the reruns and DVDS for many years to come! It is a show that is timeless, precious and so wholesome, especially with all of the junk of primetime AND day time television these days.

My dream is to own all 6 seasons of Dr.Quinn, so that not only will I be able to enjoy them for a lifetime, but so that when I get married and have children, I can share with them the wholesome, value-filled episodes, and create a bridge in which I can talk to them about issues such as love, racism, tolerance, acceptance, and so many others.

I can relate with Dr. Mike's passion for the truth and desire to do good in her community and her world. Her stubborness echos mine in many ways, though I don't think I could ever handle being a Dr., due to the fact that my stomach tends to get queasy quite easily at bodily fluids!
Now here I am, almost 20 years old, and still enjoying the reruns of DVD. Through every hard point in my life, it was a comfort to me to put in a dvd and ressurect the good values, and the valuable lesson in every episode that reminded me of the importance to love like you've never been hurt, takes chances, and do and be EVERYTHING that you want to be! Dr. Quinn has instilled in me the importance of living each day with a certain amount of vigor, inspiration and acceptance of myself and my dream

Long live Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and all of the timeless values that seem to have been forgotten today.

Sincerely,
~Sarah A

Dr. Quinn had the values of my childhood. I grew up in a small rural
area in Iowa and my family was poor and very strong in our faith in God
and family that I found myself going back in time and hearing my Mother
saying things that I heard on the show. It was a lot like going home and
being with my family and parents again. I think I was born 100 years
too late. I would have liked to have lived then and had a much simpler
life. Hard work, family all together and friends close by.

I loved the way all the cast members made the characters come to life
in their own way. Little Brian was so cute that I know my husband got
tired of hearing me say, (after seeing the same episodes over and over)
isn't he cute I think he is so cute Now listen to what he says here.
He drew me in and I wanted to just grab him and hug him to death! Just
like my own boys that are grown now I hated to see him grow up, he is
such a sweet boy.

What really touched me most was the mother Dr. Quinn was. I wanted to
be like her so much and found myself thinking if only I could be like
that with my kids. She was an inspiration to me to be the best mother
I could be and be fair and understanding.

When I get homesick or am down I just pick up my tapes or DVD's and go
to my bedroom and shut the door and watch Dr. Quinn. The family knows
that when that happens to leave me in peace and I have my daily dose of
Dr. Quinn and I emerge in a much better attitude!

Dr. Quinn touched my life in so many ways that I couldn't just pick one.
It gave me hope for the future and appreciation of our past. It taught
me history of our country. A new understanding of predigest and
intolerance. I am sorry that it is off the air here in the US, but
until it comes back on somewhere I will just keep watching my DVD's and
tapes until they wear out and then buy more!!!!

I’ve always been attracted by the old times: How life was hard and how people thought things simply. Also, I was also fascinated by the way the creators wove the historical facts with fictional events. I first started watching for those reasons but it quickly changed to an addiction in the second season when the Dog Soldiers abducted Michaela.

From then on, I absolutely needed to be home on Saturday nights. I hated to be out on that evening. When I was absolutely incapable of staying home, I taped the episode. But sometimes my antenna couldn’t catch CBS because of the weather; then frustrated, I would sprint between members of my family who had cable and ask around if they could tape DQ for me. It was out of the question that I miss one episode.

After each episode, the mood of DQ would envelope me for several days, leaving my imagination on a rampage every Saturday night. I would often imagine a following to the episode I had just viewed. Michaela and Sully fed my mind with so many different thoughts and stories. I never spoke of those thoughts to anyone because I was too shy to share them—not even with my husband.

When DQ was canceled I was very upset that they would cancel such a heartwarming show. I had hoped that it would continue for several years like so many shows in the U.S. After its cancellation, I never was as interested in another show as I was for DQ. I was not part of the great wave of protest that it created because I was not aware of it. I simply thought it was the end of a great show.

But what a surprise when my family could afford to have the Internet and that after a search of curiosity, I found that DQ had not completely ended with the cancellation of the show. How delighted and pleased I was to see that DQ continued to live through resourceful sites and bring so many strangers around the world together in an effort to revive a show that had affected many nations and still does. Through the world and in many languages, the important values of honor and generosity transpired from the world of DQ, going as far as being cited in books and in classrooms as examples for students.

But until now it had not changed my life. This is where I want to show you how much power DQ has on people. Even if this family show deserted the world of television, it continued its wonderful work of spreading balms over wounded souls, of helping others to learn a foreign language. After many years DQ still has a strong impact on people’s life. I know it did on mine.

DQ touched me by pushing me to explore a side of myself I had not discovered until reading DQ fan fiction.I began reading fan fiction in my spare time because I loved the characters of DQ so much. I realized then that I was not alone with an overflowing imagination and, after reading about just anything and everything about DQ; it gave me the inspiration and led me to write a story myself.

Being a mother of three, who stays home for my children and husband, DQ hollowed out the talent that was deeply buried in me. I surprised myself by what I was capable of. DQ allowed me to practice with a foreign language and express myself in words. I can show how people of the 19th century lived from stories shared from my grandmother and mother. Moreover, I can share my deepest feeling of life with readers.

All this, is only the beginning of what I found in myself, as I am very motivated to continue my writing in producing a book and maybe several— who knows. Again, friends of the DQ community have encouraged me to write about my great-grandmother, who will be the heroine of my novel. I can say I associated my ancestor with Michaela’s character, for they both have strong-headed will.

It gave me the proper tools and self-confidence that I needed to guide me in accomplishing a book with my newfound talent. Never in my wildest dreams have I thought I would someday write novels. It was never in my choice of career or a pastime pleasure.

If I do today, I owe my passion to Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Cynthia

When the next season began with Jessica Bowman still playing Colleen, I was disappointed; however, the story lines were interesting enough to keep me watching season after season, and, would you believe, just when I became an ardent fan, boom! CBS canceled the show. I was outraged, to say the least, and wrote 'nasty' notes to CBS, but to no avail. Then, lo and behold, PAX TV started to carry the show, and, I watched all the episodes through season 5, over and over, but without the last season (which I missed because I was working Saturday evenings that final year), I looked for other sources to find out what happened. I joined the Dr. Quinn Fan Club (Jane Seymour's) and was able to obtain some of the copied videos of shows I didn't have. I bought the VHS tapes from Columbia House and started collecting various memoraphelia. Since I am originally from Europe, I also joined the German Dr. Quinn Fan Club. In the meantime, I watched the tapes and soon had my nephew and great-nephew interested in watching them, too. They also loved the show and soon picked their favorites. Of course, at their ages (both around 10), they liked Brian the most. I continued watching PAX and again, had to curb my temper when they, too, canceled the reruns. But, hey, luckily our cable also carried the Hallmark Channel, which, thankfully picked up the option to show the re-runs, especially Season 6. I was in heaven again, watching the shows over and over. Alas, as with all good things, this, too, came to an end and here I am again, hoping and doing whatever I can to have some other network pick it up, and, better yet, CBS decides to have another update movie. Now, this brings me to how Dr. Quinn touched my life.

From its beginning, the plots of the shows have been very real and down to earth. The death of my loving mom (83) in 1994 was especially difficult for me. It took a long time for the loss to heal, but whenever I watched Dr. Quinn, the hurt eased and I was able to put myself in many of the characters' places. My greatest healing came when I first saw the episode, "Pike's Peace." I can't recall if it was when it originally aired or when I saw it from a video or a re-run, but, somehow, I identified the death scene on the mountain with memories of my mom. My tears flowed as freely as those of Dr. Quinn and suddenly, when "Sam" surrendered her life, I realized that my mom, like "Sam", was finally at peace and although I would always miss her, I thanked God for that peace. That particular episode helped me understand what a great gift life is, and when I faced my own personal struggle with it in early 2000, I believe that gift became even more precious.

For six seasons, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman brought values back to television that were being totally ignored by many of the shows it competed with. The warmth of family and love the show demonstrated renewed some of the moral standards that were lacking in most shows of the 90's. I, for one, miss those values and have refused to watch the so-called hits of the late 90's and 2000's. I did watch the Emmys recently, but was very disappointed because I could not identify any of the winners with their performances. How sad.

Helen
North Carolina

Dr Quinn Made Me Proud of My Heritage

I usually have my doubts when white people try to tell the history of minorities. There is always a risk that it could lead to false information. That is the case with the civil war for example. The civil war is often presented as a war based on equality issues between blacks and whites. That was not the case. But sadly many people believe, that the civil war mainly was fought for the blacksman's sake.

However, now I would like to discuss another minority, the native americans. Me being partly Native American, I was rather pleased with how the redman was presented in Dr Quinn. I liked that the redman was very well acknowledged in the history of America. The native american story line was
based on many historical events that actually took place. Episodes like Washita, The offering or Hearts and Minds maintained the historical accuracy and worked very well on the show. The early seasons of DQ gave us many Native American characters such as Chief Black Kettle, Snowbird, Franklin and of course Cloud Dancing. Each character felt very real and human. None of
them felt like stereotypes. Writers like Toni Perling, Toni Graphia, SaraDavidson, Kathryn Ford, William Scmidt and Julie Henderson, showed a unique talent when it came to presenting the tragic history of the Native Americans.

On a personal level DQ made me proud of my Native American heritage. So I would like to thank Beth Sullivan, the writers mentioned above, especially Toni Graphia my all time favourite, people envolved in the show, like Jennifer Youngs who suggested that I should ask Mary Ann to post
this on the website.

Alexander

Growing Through the Years

As I sit here, looking at my computer desktop with a peaceful picture of Michaela and Sully, I try to think of how Dr. Quinn has touched my life.  There hasn’t been a specific incident that has been a
life-altering experience, such as a family reunion, or a “golden moment” with a loved one, but rather an overall effect.  I watched Dr. Quinn in my early 20s, when I was dating my husband (then boyfriend/fiancé), I really watched Dr. Quinn weekly for the excellent  writing and the developing storylines among the characters; I always  was waiting with anticipation to see what would happen the next week.  In that regard, other than being quality family programming, it was like some of the other shows in which I watched.

In the last year or so, I’ve “found” Dr. Quinn again…now married, (no kids), but seeing it from a different perspective.  I first got a hold of season 1, and some of season 2, and thought that those were by far the best episodes.  After all, those were the episodes when you had Dr. Mike’s relationship with her children developing, and the relationship between Michaela and Sully generated romance, tension, and love.  How could you not be drawn to that?  Then I got a hold of later episodes, after Michaela and Sully were married, Katie was born, the Cooper kids were growing up, and I saw all the characters in a different light.  The show wasn’t just about that episode anymore; it became about
watching the characters grow, both individually and with each other.  The family dynamic had changed; everyone was growing up – even the adults.  Suddenly, the second half of the series became more
intriguing.  I was torn between the early episodes and the later episodes – which were better?  As it turns out, neither was better; they were just different.  All the episodes were great because the
compilation of the series and the changes the characters went through was what made it so special.

Through the years, I was able to watch Brian grow up, learn about life, right vs. wrong, and I was able to watch him develop his morals, values, and character.  Colleen took the road less traveled,
particularly for a young woman at that time.  As the show progressed, Colleen became more and more like Michaela, growing out of the shy, reserved little girl that she had been.  Matthew grew into a man,
becoming more like Sully as the years went on.  You always saw Matthew, inside, evaluating himself, his decisions, and his life. Sully and Michaela showed that adults grow just as much as children do.  In the beginning of the show, it seemed as if Michaela was the “smart one;” the one with all the answers.  Sully wasn’t book-educated and people often didn’t go to him for answers.  However, as the years went by, it became apparent that Michaela and Sully were equally intelligent, just in different areas, and they learned from each other and taught each other in so many ways.  It was one of the strongest aspects of their relationship, and was also portrayed in their relationships with others in the town, and with the children.  For six years, they learned from each other in friendship, in family, in life, and in love.

There is no one event in my life that I can pin down that was affected by Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; the show has affected many aspects of my life, but particularly the relationships I have with others.  Being a high-school teacher, I pay-attention more, now, to what my students have to say, and really listen to them.  As Dr. Quinn said, “I was hoping we could learn from each other; I’m willing if you are.”  I have many things to teach them, but they have many things to teach me, and so much to offer.

I value my family more, and through good times and bad, I do my best to remember how important it is to have a family.  On the show, the family was always there for each other in the good times, and no matter the disagreements, the Quinn/Sully/Cooper family was there to support each
other.

When I was younger, as many of us think, we know so much, when it turns out, a little self-evaluation would do us all some good.  As the show progressed, Dr. Mike took the time to see how others perceived her, and she grew as a person, a doctor, friend, and mother.  I do try to take a glimpse at how other see me, and in that right, do my best to treat others as I would want to be treated.

Finally, the aspect of Dr. Quinn that has most affected my life up until this point has been the relationship between Michaela and Sully.  To me, the most special part of their relationship was their ability to grow together.  Through good times and bad, they worked at their relationship.  They made an effort to make sure that it worked.  In today’s world, that is something sorely lacking.  For me personally, it has been an inspiration to me, in that it is the kind of marriage I want to have and maintain.  It was never perfect, but there was always love between them and they always worked at making their relationship work.

Lisa L.

Dr Quinn Saved My Life

What Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman meant to me:

I watched Dr. Quinn from the first episode.  I originally started watching because, like many others, I had been a fan of Joe Lando's when he was on One Life to Live.  I wanted to see what he could do with another role.  I was also intrigued by the Colorado Springs setting since I am a Colorado native and life-long Colorado resident.  Due to circumstances beyond my control, however, the show itself and the community of fans surrounding it came to mean far more to me than I could have ever imagined.

In Spring, 1995 I was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer.  Since I had never been a smoker, it came as a shock to everyone.  I underwent surgery and then 6 weeks of very painful radiation treatments.  As a result of this, I was left without a voice for several months.  Since I found it very difficult to communicate with others, especially in a room with several people, I retreated to the computer.

While surfing one night, I stummbled onto the AOL Dr. Quinn message board, which led me to the chat room.  What a fun group of people I encountered there, all as addicted to my favorite show as I was!  I also quickly learned that the computer was a great equalizer for me.  Even without a voice, I could be an equal participant in the lively conversations held there.  The chat room led me to the Dr. Quinn List.   While the radiation treatments I was enduring made my life an absolute hell, I now had a few things to truly look forward to:  the show, the chat and the list!  I found the show to be very comforting and I found myself watching my tapes over and over, especially when I couldn't sleep at night due to the pain.  I also couldn't wait for the list to come every night.  It never failed to make me laugh at a time in my life when there was very little else to laugh at. The Dr. Quinn "community" truly helped me get through it all.

Fortunately, they caught my cancer very early, and I have recovered completely.  As soon as I was physically able to go, I made the trip to California to visit the set.  I had a great time, and not only was I able to chat with the stars that I had come to love, including Joe Lando, I was also able to meet several people who had become my friends through the chat and the list.  What a wonderful group of people (cast, crew and fans) to be involved with!

Throughout the remaining years of the series, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the set several times.  After the episode "Woman of the Year", crew members were wearing t-shirts that sported the catch phrase from that episode: "Dr. Quinn saved my life."  While I didn't have a t-shirt, that phrase certainly rang true for me!  In a very special way, I can honestly say, "Dr. Quinn saved my life!"

Evelyn
Thornton, Colorado

A Part of Me

Thank you for the opportunity and the challenge to find the words to
express how Dr. quinn has touched my life.

It's difficult to remember how I used to look at life before Dr. Quinn
came along and made an impact on me like nothing else of the kind. I
tuned into Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman on Jan.1, 1993 because I had fallen
in love with the west the summer before. My husband had a bone marrow
transplant in Boston a year before that, and we promised ourselves that
if he made it though that first year,  we would take a  cross country
trip  to visit our son who was studying for  his masters in biology.
Then, some months after our first trip west, I caught a promo about a
lady Doc traveling  from Boston to practice medicine in the west in the
1860's. Still reeling from my newfound love of everything west of the
Mississippi, and since medicine continued to be at the center of my
life, I couldn't possibly pass that one up! 

How did it impact my life after that New years I curled up for a pleasant diversion? At first it
was an escape from the realties of living with a post-transplant
patient. I couldn't wait to step into Colorado Springs every saturday
night, and that was EVERY saturday night without fail. I came away each
week with some new thought to dominate my mind all the next week so I
didn't have to dwell on white counts and platelets and graft-vs-host
disease, and the dreaded worry of the return of the leukema.

However, somewhere along the way, probably at the rumor of an impending
Sully departure, it became something else entirely. By that time, each
and every character had become a very real part of my life. I decided to
visit the library and see if I could find any information on the
internet about what was happening with Quinn, and I couldn't believe it.
There were so many others who seemed to feel the way I did. Maybe I
wasn't such an obsessive nut, or at least I was among a number of other
very impassioned persons who saw more than a nice little TV show.
Sometime later, I had occasion to visit the set on a new excursion west,
but to my horror, they had cancelled the show just days before.  I told
my husband I couldn't bear to cross that bridge, and he marched me right
up there and got the park personnel to unlock the door to the clinic and
invite me to sit at Dr. Mike's desk. My husband just stood there in that
town we had come to know as our own,  and watched me assume the
positions of so many scenes that had impacted my senses throughout the
years. I thought it was all over, not realizing at the time that it was
the beginning of yet a new chapter, an even greater involvement with all
things Quinn. 

I have met some of the most endearing people I have come
to know as friends, people who recognize and appreciate all that Dr.
Quinn is. I made a gallery in my den of that first bittesweet trip to
the set and since then, I have added on my desk,  photos of me( I hate
to have my picture taken, but I'll make an exception n this case) with
both Joe and Jane, and in the desk drawers, albums and other
memorabilia of subsequent Quinn  encounters, tangible evidence not only
of how Dr. quinn has impacted me, but has become an undeniable part of
my life, occupying a very large portion of my heart.   On subsequent
trips west, I have pointed out so many places of interest mentioned or
even visited in Dr. Quinn, the Powder River, Washita, taking the tour of
"The White House" in Sacremento, actually visiting old town Colorado
Springs and the "red rocks" of the Garden of the Gods,  meeting an
elderly lady at the base of Pike's Peak with an uncanny resemblance to
Sam from Pike's Peace, and of course, everything Native American. I
thank Quinn for that.  

Somewhere along the way, the story became real, the characters became
real people living their lives and trying to make their little corner of
the world a better place, and real it was, good and bad,  happy and sad,
everything from a little sliver in Horace's finger to the overwhelmng
saddness of the Washita massacre.   Somewhere along the way, it became a
part of me and I became a part of it., and I am the richer for having
opened my mind and my heart to all things Dr. Quinn.

JoyceG, New York State

A Wonderful Journey

For the first time in months I had the time to sit down tonight and watch several episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and fell in love with this remarkable program all over again. I thought about what this show has meant to me over the past ten years, the friends I have made and the marvelous events I have been able to attend. It has been a wonderful journey.

I was lucky to have discovered Dr. Quinn right from the beginning. What caught my interest was the fact that it was about a woman physician trying to make a place for herself in a world that really didn't want her. I have been in the health care field for all of my adult life and I have always gravitated toward television programs that centered around medicine. At that time CBS actually did a wonderful job of promoting this show. I remember watching numerous commercials previewing Dr. Quinn during the Christmas holidays. What I saw looked interesting enough to want to sit down and watch the two-hour pilot.

On January 1, 1993 at eight o'clock in the evening I sat down in front of my television and watch a program that totally blew me away. When the pilot was over I remember thinking – wow! It was so unique, something that had not been on television before. It was not just about a woman physician, but also about community, friendship and making a difference in the world.

What Dr. Quinn did for me was to allow me to participate in a community of sorts and most importantly of all has allowed me to meet and become friends with some wonderful people, all of whom shared a love of this program.

The first time I really felt part of a community, unfortunately, was when it was announced that CBS had cancelled Dr. Quinn. I was truly amazed at how quickly our little community organized to fight back. I do not normally write letters of protest, but I quickly drafted letters of outrage and mailed them to CBS. It was most fun talking my fellow employees in the hospital I worked at to send in their nickels to Mr. Moonves, which was our way of letting him know that we did not appreciate the fact that he was quoted as saying the Dr. Quinn viewers were not worth an nickel as far as advertisers were concerned. Another time when I was helping at a dog show, I made the exhibitors in the obedience classes I was helping with sign my petition of protest before I would hand them their armband. I even got our obedience judge to sign! Ultimately, even though our campaign did not bring our beloved show back I still feel very proud to have participated.

As part of our campaign we managed to gather well over one hundred plus fans from all over the world for a weekend of “Quinn” events that ended with a protest in front of the CBS Studios in Hollywood. Not something that I would have normally done, but it was a wonderful chance to let our feelings known and more importantly a chance to get to know some of the wonderful people that lead the campaign. Many of these have become great friends and remain so today.

Our group of friends has managed to get together for various events over the years from Star Week (The Dr. Quinn Barbecue and other events for Jane Seymour's Star on the Walk of Fame), attending the filming of the two Dr. Quinn movies, and most recently attending the wonderful DQ Times hosted Ten Year Dr. Quinn Reunion.

I will always hold a special place in my heart for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. It has enriched my life more that I had ever dreamed possible. My Saturdays have not been the same and I truly miss this show with all my heart.

Debbie

Renewal of Hope

There was a period of time in my life from the late 1980's through 1995 that I experienced some very dark and desperate times. I was watching my family fall apart and something precious slip away. During this time, I received strength through much prayer and trying to focus on the positive things in my life. In my times of trying to escape the pain and despair that I felt, I would read or watch a movie that I liked. However, it became increasingly difficult to find a movie or television program that did not end up making me feel even more depressed.

Then, in January 1993, CBS introduced a wonderful group of people to me. From the moment I saw the first preview, I knew that something very special was waiting for me. I began to look forward to each episode with pleasure, for I could momentarily escape to a place called Colorado Springs. The characters were brought to life in such a way that they were believable, which is a very refreshing change from most programming today. Many issues that were dealt with were parallel to modern issues. I found myself being encouraged to regain trust in people, and learning that, even though there were those I could never trust again, that I could forgive them. I saw this particular trait portrayed time after time on Dr. Quinn; whenever there was injury to one member of the town by another, the usual outcome would be overcoming the problem and the majority eventually standing together in support.

As the series continued, and the family unit began to come together, I could feel their love for each other, even though they were all brought together by tragic circumstances. Even as Dr. Mike said to Brian, "We aren't really related, are we?", the love that can be borne in a person's heart for another is an incredible miracle. I saw how the little things that they did for each other made their love grow stronger, and how they learned to accept each other, in spite of their faults and mistakes. In my own life, things did not go as I had at first hoped, but looking back, I see so many positive things that have happened as a result of all the tragedy. In the face of adversity, I saw the character of Dr. Mike perservere against the odds that were against her. I adopted that same concept and applied it to my own life and eventually saw satisfying results. I remember the sadness that touched my heart at the thought of Brian, Colleen, and Matthew being deserted by their father. My son's father did not desert him in that way, but it was, nevertheless, a neglect that hurt terribly. I also remember feeling Horace's pain after Myra left, because I had been there. It brought back the memory of an emptiness that is difficult to describe. But sadness and pain were not the only things I felt. The overwhelming joy I felt upon seeing that love can be pure and true and watching as people so sincerely portrayed these characters, as to make the observer forget that it is only a story. The romance was such that was incomparable with any other of it's kind, and has often gave me hope that someday I might be blessed to find love again. And while these characters struggled in finding their way, they included in their journey of life a deep compassion for those who were less fortunate such as the Native American and other minority groups whose fate seemed hopeless at times. Even though they were outnumbered for their support of people who were "different", the Quinn-Sully family did not give in to popular demand.

This portrayal helped me have a keener sense of awareness of those who are shunned so many times because of their differences and has encouraged me to have a greater depth of compassion for the less fortunate.

"Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman" is definitely not just any story. It is truly in a category of it's own and I know that there will never be another series to compare. As I continue to watch this series over and over on a regular basis, I find a new lesson to be learned almost daily.

Peggy

A Beacon of Light

Sadly I didn't start watching DQMW when it first started. TV watching wasn't in my time scheduling back in 1993. In the Spring of 1995 my 14 year old daughter was diagnosed with bone cancer. Her course of treatment included a year of intense chemotherapy and surgeries. I had a lot of time to sit at her bedside and you guessed it--watch TV. In one episode of DQMW, at 3:00 pm one afternoon, I fell hard and fast for this show.

At first I couldn't figure out why I was so intent on making sure I could see this show. I discovered shortly after that new shows were being shown on Saturdays. So when I wasn't living at the Ronald McDonald House in Brookline, Massachusetts, I was home working out how to tape continuous shows. I wanted the whole story. I wanted to see in time-order all the various stories on this show.

The main attraction for me was the Mike and Sully 'show'. I knew who Jane Seymour was but wasn't familiar with Joe Lando. I soon found out more than I ever wanted to know by discovering the DQMW website on the internet. I take back the more than I wanted bit--I can't get enough even to this day. It was only after the year was over that I realized why I needed DQMW in my life. It had kept me sane and focused while watching the torture my daughter had to go through to beat her cancer. I watched other families fall apart over their child's illness. I saw parents have physical problems develop in their time of stress. Of course it also helped that my husband and I were intact and supportive of each other. While I watched an episode of DQMW--Brian falling out of a tree, should they hang the rapist, Ingrid dying from rabies, Matthew gambling, Sully trying to take care of both his families (Cooper/Quinn's and Cheyenne) Dr. Mike solving a medical mystery, Colleen having a crush on Sully, Grace and Robert E dealing with racism or Cloud Dancing figuring out how to live--I was able to escape for a short time from the reality of my daughter's illness. Nothing else was ever able to budge me away from her side. (Except her telling me to go away!)

My internet connection didn't begin until the fall of 1996. The only site I became familiar with was the DQMW site. I then noticed the listserv. I joined and then so many wonderful things have happened. I remember the first time I realized that I had finally seen every single episode except the Pilot. As I started making friends through the DQMW site I found so many willing to share what they had with me. Hence I was able to get the Pilot and other episodes I didn't have taped yet. My hunger has never waned and watching DQMW's is still fun for me.

This wonderful show, so sadly and unfairly canceled, was a beacon of light to me in my darkest year. I held on to the fantasy, romance, adventure, social issue discussions and character portrayals on a daily basis. I made friends that were caring and compassionate when I needed them most. I have found every day examples of Dr. Quinn's influence. I fell in love with all the characters and totally in awe of Sully. As a happily married woman he could only be a fantasy man to dream about. Between the admiration I have of Dr. Mike and the respect for Sully I have found many moments in my private life that encourage their kind of behavior. Other characters in this show also have had great influence in my thinking. Grace, Robert E and Cloud Dancing especially. And as my own children became adults so did Brian, Colleen and Matthew.

Upon meeting most of the cast of DQMW in April 2002 I was pleasantly surprised that the actors and actresses were more than I thought they would be. Meeting them pushed away my needless worry about my obsession for a TV show. DQMW, the show had become something far more important than watching TV. It was a wonderful gift to me from a lot of wonderful and talented folks.

My daughter beat her cancer. Last year she broke her hip while horsing around. Again some of my DQMW friends were there for me in every way. Plus they sent my daughter flowers. As the flowers were put on her bedside table she read the signed card. She yells out in a loud voice "Hey! Dr. Quinn sent me some flowers!" I think that says it all.

Nancy

A Lifetime Friendship

I am the average demographic fan for the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman TV show.  Currently,  I am a 35 year old,  Army wife, and have just moved to Bangkok, Thailand.  I did not watch every episode of Dr. Quinn when it first aired in the 1990's, as other shows and activities took precedent in my life at the time.  However, the reruns offered on various US TV stations has renewed my interest in the show. 

Following many fans, I found the Internet filled with Dr. Quinn websites and other fans.  The Dr. Quinn TV show has provided several things in my life in the last year.  First of all, it was show that I could watch
with my ten- year old daughter, who enjoys the American West and  Pioneer era of stories and TV  shows.  It was a show that had a little bit of everything for everyone in the family ---- children's adventures
for the children, cowboys and Indians for the men of the family that grew up on TV Westerns, and a little romance for the women in the family.  Often shows had unrealistic events or historically incorrect
sections written, and we might say "That would never have happened back then....".  But we could tell ourselves that was alright, because the show was not really about history, but rather about the timeless tale
of struggle, love and success that American's love to see. 

The show also touched a few heartstrings with me, as my mother's family immigrated from Germany prior to the Civil War and worked for generations on the expanding railroad system, specifically the Cotton
Belt line,  in America during and after the Civil War and on into my mother's life time.  Watching the struggle of the characters as the railroad came to town, reflected many of the stories that have been
passed down in our family as well.

But, even more so, my interest in Dr. Quinn, has led to something more important and more lasting --- friendships.  I have met several wonderful people through the Internet that are also Dr. Quinn fans. 
One of these women has let me into her life as a friend more than any other.  We share many common interests: marriage, love, children, jobs, struggles, writing, reading, quilting and more.  Just this last year,
my husband was deployed to Egypt for a year without us, in which time we emailed each other.  I saw him just two times during that year.  I was able to share my joys and sorrows of this last year with my new
friend, Laurel.  And she shared much about her family, and how much she loved her life and husband.

Suddenly, this last month, her husband died.  It has been a joy to meet Laurel, and now she is including me in her new journey.  She tells me how when she first met her husband, she liked the way he walked.  Later she says to me it was the same as the way Sully would walk on the TV show.  We shared how and why our spouses were like or not like certain characters on Dr. Quinn, and who we associated more with on the show and in real life.  We even wrote letters to each other describing why and how our spouses were like those on the TV show. When her husband  died she wrote that "he was my heart song" , quoting a famous line from the Dr. Quinn show. She shared with me how she is on a "different journey in her life without her husband", one I think she never imagined she would have to make alone.

Through all this she still shares a joy in Dr. Quinn the show, and now our new friendship. Even if Dr. Quinn is to come and go from my life, my friendship with Laurel will last longer.   So, for all those reasons
and more, I will now treasure the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman show, for all it was to viewers, but all it has created in it's wake.

I am not so much writing this story for my own interests or in hopes of winning the prize, but instead to be counted as a fan, to let those know there is still viewer interest in the show, hopeful for more TV
specials or movies to be made, and getting the show a place in the syndicate TV world. And, truely, hoping that Laurel might be awarded the prize for this contest.  She too has written something for this
contest.  I do not know what she wrote, but I hope you will read it and consider it.  It is from her broken heart.

Amy

Joy in the midst of pain

I always considered myself a charter member of the DQ fan club. I was a fan from the very first episode. I even knew before that, it would be my favorite show. The promos were about the old west and there was to be a romance. Two very favorite things of mine.

And as I had quessed, Iwas hooked from the get go. My childtren who were young at the time were forced to watch the show with me. As was my husband. We all started to enjoy it and begin to care about all the characters.

My husband favorite character was Hank. He loved the way he talked and acted.. My husband would love the saturday night episodes that were more romantic. He said dq quinn made him a lucky man on Saturday nights. They also made me a lucky woman.

So for the next 6 years Saturday nights were like a date night for the whole family. The shows were so family friendly i never had to worry about my kids watching. That is why this show received the awards it did. There are so few shows out there now that a parent can feel that comfort level about.

I have popped in a few tapes recently for myself to watch and my kids, who are now teenagers . The are amazed how they still feel drawn to sit and watch. They say this show was really good. I know if the show came back on the air, we wouold all be watching it again faithfully.

My husband died suddenly of a heart attack 4 weeks ago. He was my heartsong, my Sully.
I watched episodes of dq evvery day while i walked on my treadmill. It would make the 3 miles fly by.
After my husbands death, i was afraid to get back on my treadmill and watch dq. I thought I should watch something else. I thought i could not enjoy it now.But I needed to feel some familiarity. I needed to see the characters who always made me want more ot them.

Two weeks after my husband died I got back on my treadmill. I put in the baseball episode. I happen to be there in the chronical order I usually watch. I watched and I enjoyed it just like I always did. It made me feel good to know i could feel the same joy about things i had before. I always thought DQ was an escape or fantasy that was good for you. Now I know its true.

I have gotten on my treadmill 3 times since this has happened. Each time it makes me feel joy- Just like before. I always thought DQ gave me something no other show ever did. There is such a warmth and compassion there. There is a comfort level it sends out to the audience. I know that now more than ever. I will continue to watch my new dvds and the tapes I have.

I wish this show could be resurected. The passion I feel for the show, I had never felt for any other show before. My wonderful husband always respected my passion for the show.

My husband Paul was 44 yrs young when he died. We had a marriage of peace and tranqulitlity. And with 4 faboulous teenagers living with us, I considered us to be one ot the unique marriages out there. We were even better than Sully and Michaela.

My favorite character would have to be Sully. He had a lot of ways that reminded me of my husband. Now here I am finding I can relate to the pain of the character Sully felt when his wife died. I never knew anyone close to me die before.

By writing this essay, I just wanted to be another voice who supports such a wonderful show. And I wanted to voice about my husband. And although I am feeling pain, no one should ever feel, the passion I feel for this show is bringing me joy even now.

Laurel