Not My Dad's Movie Theater

Aloma and I only go to the movies two or three times a year, choosing science fiction or feel-good movies.  All movie theaters have been similar with  comfortable, auditorium type seats.  We usually sit in the row above the aisle so I can stick my legs through the rails.

One of our New Year’s eve traditions is hiking in late morning, eating lunch out, and then going to a movie.  Even though Jennifer and Peter had taken us to see the new Star Wars movie on the 29th, we stuck with our tradition, hiking (walking inside SouthPoint Mall because of the weather), eating at a favorite restaurant in the mall, going to a new movie theater in Park Plaza not far from our home.  

We had a light rain so I let Aloma off in front of the theater.  When I walked in she held up two tickets.  “We have reserved seating.”

We’ve never had reserved seating.  We found the theater for our movie, “Joy”, and climbed the steps looking for our row and seat.  Then came the big surprise.  Our seats were recliners and not just any recliners - powered recliners.  They were so comfortable.

A few minutes later, a young woman approached us with a tray, showed us a menu and asked if she could bring us anything.  Burgers, sandwiches, snacks and drinks, including beer, were all on the menu.  We declined but noticed most people were ordering food and drinks.

The move was okay, not great, but the theater experience was outstanding.  We’re going back.

Dad never took me to a theater like that in Ocala, Florida in the 1950s.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

How Do You Feel?

I came down with a sore throat on Saturday and by Sunday afternoon I had a high temperature, aching body and bad cough.  Thinking it might be the flu, I went to a doctor on Monday and got the news that it wasn’t the flu, but was another nasty virus.  He prescribed a potent cough medicine and sent me home to wait out my recovery.

Each day, Aloma asked me how I was feeling.  Rather than go through all the details, I said, “If I were still working, I would call in sick today.”  That response wouldn’t mean much to most people, but after 40 years of marriage and watching me go to work even when I didn’t feel well, she knew exactly what I meant.  Finally, yesterday, five days after I got sick, I told her, “I would think about going to work, but would stay home again.”  She knew I was improving.

This morning I announced, “I would go to work today, but might come home a little early.”  She knew that even though I sounded awful, I must be feeling better.  Sure enough, I got out of the house for the first time, drove to Sam’s and did a little shopping.

We laugh often how, because of our many years together, we use short cuts in our conversations that our partner completely understands, even though anyone else would think we were nuts.

PS  The day after I went shopping, I relapsed.  Aloma said, “I told you not to go to work yesterday.”

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Brandi

The topic for one of my writing groups this month is a pet story.  Below is what I read to them.

Daughter, Mary, called and excitedly said she saw a new litter of puppies that we had to see.  Aloma nor I were interested in a pet, but because Mary was so excited we agreed to drive to Honeoye Fall to see the puppies.  Ben, was the father, a huge black lab that roamed loose in the village.  Litters of puppies in Honeoye falls were getting blacker and blacker, just like big Ben.

We fell in love with one of the puppies.  Brandi grew into a wonderful dog, affectionate and obedient.  

While Brandi would bark when the doorbell rang or the garbage truck came by, but anyone (friend or foe) who entered the house quickly became her best friend.  When friends came over, we would lock Brandi in a spare bedroom.  When we were ready for friends to leave, we would let Brandi out and she would join the party slobbering on every guests.  They always left soon after Brandi came out.

 You would think big Ben’s hunting genes would pass to Brandi.  They didn’t.  We would trap an ant under a glass and she would lay and watch it for hours.  But anything larger, like a bee, trapped under a glass would scare her.  She would pretend not to see it and not go near it.

One day, we were on the deck with friends and noticed a dove eating soft berries from a shrub.  They were decaying and must have produced alcohol because the dove starting staggering around on the ground.  Someone suggested we hold onto Brandi so she wouldn’t grab the drunk dove.  I said, “Not to worry.  She’ll refuse to see it.  And I was correct.

Finally the dove staggered out of our yard.  Suddenly, Brandi got up, ran into the yard and went into hunting mode, tail stiff, and nose to the ground.  She looked like an actual hunting dog.  She circled, picked up the scent of the dove and started tracking it - not where it went but to the bush it came from.  After checking out the bush, she came back to the deck looking really proud.  We thought she was a fool, but gave her our approval.

We all got a laugh.

Seasoned Man
stevelem117@gmail.com