General Hospital Message Board

January 18, 2008, to January 21, 2008 – Sonny’s first proposal to Kate

2007 was a year of exploration for Sonny and Kate. To understand who they were in relation to each other and how to reconcile the past with the present. The conflict was always there that their lives were incompatible but there was always the possibility of a secret, casting a shadow on their relationship.

The other aspect was the connection between their story and events taking shape in the Middle East.

After many back and forths in 2007, 2008 seemed to be the year when secrets would be known and when happiness could have been awaiting Sonny and Kate.

That’s how 2008 began.

Frustrated with the distance between them, Sonny took Kate to Bensonhurst. They remembered memories of the old neighbourhood where Kate Howard was still Connie Falconeri. The neighbourhood where the characters grew up; where they made plans to run away together to have the freedom to live their romance. They had planned to meet at the street corner, but Connie did not show up.

In January of 2008, the Bensonhurst scenes were planting the seeds for the revelation of a secret (or secrets) that would explain Connie not showing up. A reason other than her pursuing her career.

January 18, 2008, to January 21, 2008 (the Martin Luther King Day).

Sonny took Kate to the same street corner and proposed to her. History repeated itself as Kate could not yet make a commitment to Sonny. She ran away leaving him at the street corner, again.

These scenes were turning points in the story of Sonny and Kate. Everything before was interpreted in the light of the refusal to the proposal.

Everything coming after brought with itself the question: “why did she run away?”.

Was this merely a choice in writing? Was it the result of backstage conflict? Or did it reflect another truth?

Was this a coincidence that the proposal took place on MLK Day or was the story of Sonny and Kate a pursuit for the freedom and rights of humanity?

January 18 that year (2008) coincided with Ashura. Ashura is the memory of a historical event in the calendar of Shia Islam where a revered leader fought a war in which he was outnumbered. To be a witness in history.

In 2009, there were two Ashuras; the first one was on January 6 as Operation Cast Lead continued and reached one of its consequential turning points.

The second Ashura was on December 26, 2009, a day before the anniversary of Operation Cast Lead.

In 2009, Operation Cast Lead ended on January 18.

I don’t believe in the legacy of Ashura, but the coincidence leaves me to ponder.

January 18, 2024

Anniversary of January 18, 2009
Anniversary of January 18, 2008