Shelley (Cynthia Geary) has a crisis when her mother, Tammy (Wendy Schaal),who could identify as Shelley’s younger sister (and does), shows up in Cicely touting her new man, Kenny (Sean O’Bryan). Will she keep her age and real relationship with Shelly a secret from Kenny or will the truth out?

Shelley finally confronts her, wanting a mother, and not a younger sister. But will she jeopardize her mother’s happiness just because she wasn’t what Shelley always wanted? Or will Shelley be a big sister to her mom?

Joel (Rob Morrow) and the town are left dumbstruck with their maternal instincts stoked when someone leaves a baby in the waiting room. The baby makes the rounds of the town, everyone gets a moment with her while Chris (John Corbett) runs a mail-in to find a good name for the child.

My Mother, My Sister was written by Kate Boutilier and Mitchell Burgess and was first aired on 16 March, 1992.

Adam (Adam Arkin) is also having a crisis, he’s stressed, anxious, worried, about his impending fatherhood, perhaps, for once, he’s happy. Joel tries to help Adam relate to the changes his life is going to undertake as a father and help him get back to who he is. He’s experiencing sympathetic emotions in connection to Eve’s (Valerie Mahaffey) pregnancy.

It’s a cute and playful episode, as it looks at identity and the naming of things, and consequently what they mean to us. Course Chris keeps us on track with that idea, and it’s explored through the episode. Family is always unique.

Wake Up Call.

Spring is getting to, well, spring in Cicely. Chris’ seasonal allergies are back, and there seems to be a bear wandering the town. And the eccentricities that define the town are becoming more pronounced.

Written by Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, this episode was first broadcast on 23 March, 1992.

Holling (John Cullum) is giving away eggs, and making all manner of breakfasts at The Brick. Shelley breaks out in a horrible skin rash. Maurice (Barry Corbin) is getting irritable with everything. Maggie (Janine Turner) sees a chance at breaking her loveless streak when she meets Arthur (Andreas Wisniewski) – but is he what he seems?

Joel finds himself saddled with a local healer, Leonard (Graham Greene!) who is there to observe, but he soon finds himself learning from the medicine man.

The story is filled with hope, possibility, change and rebirth as all the characters grow in different ways as the season changes around them. It’s a gentle and lovely episode, I loved the story with Maggie and Arthur it’s so well done, and I like seeing Joel grow not only as a doctor but as a person.

Such a great show.