The memories will remain

Late Sunday evening, as the day was finally coming to a close and Brazil Times' Sports Editor Carey Fox and I were finally putting the Monday paper to bed, I caught a glimpse of something on the Internet that intrigued me.

Despite all the fires raging around Los Angeles, stars of daytime television flocked together for the Daytime Emmys.

Stories were coming across the Associated Press wire on a regular rate, explaining who was winning specific awards.

"The Bold and the Beautiful," a soap opera that has aired on CBS for more than 20 years, captured Best Drama at the event.

It was the first victory for the show.

As these stories kept coming across the wire and more news flooded the Internet, I couldn't help but think of my grandmother.

She spent several hours wrapped up in a blanket in her living room for years watching "Guiding Light."

The show has existed for 72 years and is the longest running soap opera in television history.

Throughout the years, compelling characters have captivated audiences in the show.

But earlier this year, CBS announced it was canceling the show due to low ratings.

The final one-hour episode of the show was taped Aug. 11 and will air Sept. 18.

In October, "Guiding Light" will be replaced by a revival of "Let's Make A Deal," hosted by Wayne Brady.

Since the beginning of the decade, "Guiding Light" has ranked eighth overall in daytime ratings. In the 90s, the show ebbed and flowed in the daytime ratings, coming in as high as fifth during the 1991-92 season.

The show did rank fourth in ratings from time to time during the 80s.

On Sunday, "Guiding Light" received its final Daytime Emmy as actor Jeff Branson, who plays Shayne Lewis, tied for Best Supporting Actor with "All My Children" star Vincent Irizarry, who ironically, started his career as a member of "Guiding Light."

I can remember visiting with my grandparents and hearing my grandmother talking about Reva Shayne, played by Kim Zimmer.

Zimmer took the soap world by storm in the 80s when she arrived in the soap's fictional town of Springfield.

Throughout the years, her acting has won her four Lead Actress awards.

She was my grandmother's favorite character. She even mailed her a letter at one time about the show.

One of my grandmother's favorite items was an autographed picture of Zimmer.

After 72 years of being on the air, "Guiding Light" will officially close the door on its long-running story line this month.

There will be no more discussion among soap watchers regarding whether Reva and Josh will get back together or split apart yet again.

No more discussion on whether one of the show's most recent favorites, Jonathan Randall (played by Tom Pelphrey), and whether he will make yet another triumphant return to Springfield.

No more discussion about any of it.

The door is closing.

But the memories of discussing the show with my grandmother will always remain.