How many times has it happened that you think of an old show you used to love watching and wonder what the actors are doing after so many years? I guess many of you that have seen “Little House on the Prairie” and were eager to see each new adventure of the family living on the farm in Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, would love to know what the actors are up to these days.
Those fans who were fond of the actress playing Mary Ingalls, beautiful Melissa Sue Anderson, were convinced she would continue being part of their life through the small screens, but she had other plans.
Today, she speaks of her decision to leave Hollywood behind and move to Canada.
This actress started her acting career playing guest roles, and had her way into the showbiz when she became one of the central figures of “Little House on the Prairie.” Her acting brought her several nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and her fans knew she deserved it.
Speaking of her experience filming this drama that made her famous, back in 2010, Anderson told Pop Entertainment, “I’m lucky that there even was a character to play, because in the book, there isn’t much of one. Laura [Ingalls, author of the Little House novels upon which the series was based and the story was centered] was a quite older woman when she wrote the books. She was remembering the best of her life. The characters of Ma and Mary didn’t factor in a lot. There was a lot of Laura and Pa and Laura and Jack the dog and Laura and Mr. Edwards, but there wasn’t a lot of Mary. I’m fortunate that they discovered that I could act.”
She tried herself in other minor roles after Mary Ingalls, but then in 1990 she got married to television producer Michael Sloan and moved to Montreal in 2002 with her husband and their two children, daughter Piper and son Griffin.
In 2007, the family became Canadian citizens and with the new life came new commitments, so Anderson decided to let go of the showbiz because she wanted to spend more time with her kids and didn’t want them to feel pressured to pursue acting careers themselves.
In an interview with E-Talk, Anderson said, “I really stepped away for a long time. That was really for the kids so they would have their own sense of who they were as opposed to being with me.”
However, Anderson didn’t step back from acting completely, but took small roles over the recent years. Her life-changing experience of being part in a series like “Little House on the Prairie” encouraged her to write a memoir titled The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House.
MY LATE PARTNER’S PARENTS SUDDENLY APPEARED & DEMANDED I GIVE THEM THE KEYS TO HIS HOUSE – I AGREED UNDER ONE CONDITION.
The air in the living room was thick with tension. Jason’s parents, his father, a man whose face I hadn’t seen since Jason was a teenager, and his mother, a woman whose icy glare could curdle milk, sat opposite me, their faces a mask of greed and indignation.
“He did leave you an inheritance,” I said, my voice calm despite the tremor running through me. I reached into my bag and pulled out a sealed envelope. “He wanted you to have it.”
Their eyes widened. They practically lunged for the envelope, their fingers trembling with anticipation. I watched as they tore it open, their faces contorting with a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
The envelope contained a single sheet of paper, a handwritten letter from Jason.
“Dear Mom and Dad,” the letter began, “If you’re reading this, it means I’m no longer with you. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I want you to know that I forgive you. I also want to express my gratitude to Sarah for the unwavering support she has given me throughout my illness. She was my rock, my confidante, my love.
“I know you might expect me to leave the house to you, but I believe Sarah deserves it. She helped me pay the mortgage for years, she cared for me when I was sick, and she was always there for me, even when you weren’t.
“I hope one day you can understand my decision.
With love, Jason”
The room fell silent. Jason’s father, his face contorted with rage, crumpled the letter and threw it on the floor. “This is an insult! He should have left the house to us! We are his family!”
His mother echoed his sentiments, her voice shrill with indignation. “He was under her spell! She manipulated him! He wouldn’t have done this if he was thinking clearly.”
I remained silent, watching them with a mixture of pity and satisfaction. Their greed was palpable, their love for their son a distant memory, overshadowed by the allure of material possessions.
“I understand your disappointment,” I said calmly, “but Jason’s wishes are clear. The house is mine.”
Jason’s father exploded. “You’re nothing but a gold digger! You only married him for his money!”
I rose to my feet, my anger finally erupting. “I married Jason because I loved him, not for his money. I was there for him when you weren’t. I supported him through thick and thin. I loved him unconditionally, even when his own family abandoned him.”
Jason’s mother scoffed. “Love? You loved his money, that’s all.”
I turned to leave, my head held high. “I will not tolerate these accusations,” I said, my voice firm. “Jason loved me, and I loved him. And I will honor his wishes.”
As I walked away, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced in years. I had finally stood up for myself, for my love for Jason, and for the life we had built together. The house, a symbol of their greed and his love, would remain a testament to their lost opportunity and to the enduring strength of true love.
I knew the battle wasn’t over. They would likely try to contest the will, to find loopholes, to exploit any weakness they could find. But I was prepared. I had a good lawyer, and I had the truth on my side.
More importantly, I had Jason’s love, a love that transcended material possessions, a love that had proven to be stronger than any family feud, any petty greed. And that, I knew, was a legacy far more valuable than any house.
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