I had a wonderful “girls day out” with my youngest daughter recently. We started the day at the grocery store — never too thrilling of a time I guess, unless you’re six and there with your mom. I remember my trips to the grocery store with my mom… I remember it being fun and adventurous. When a new Kroger opened up in my town, I went there with her. There was a small door in the front of the store — I remember the scene very vividly… my mother crouching down, pushing the plastic doors to the side, peeking in, and proceeding to walk on through — I followed, assuming this was a bonus feature to the new Kroger… carnival doors. Of course, a few minutes later we realized that the new, small plastic doors were for the bag boys to push the carts through — the real doors were on the side, where we failed to look.
Back to my wonderful “girls day out” day with my youngest… after the store, we decided to go to the movies. I love going to the movies, always have. And this day was no different. We gathered up our popcorn and headed to a good seat right in the middle. We laughed and told jokes and repeatedly said, “…we gotta see that!” after each preview. We put on our 3D glasses when we were instructed to do so and we reached our hands in front of us to grab the objects that appeared so close. We held hands. We let our heads rest on each other. I looked at my daughter next to me — the smile on her face, the wonder in her eyes, and remembered a special movie time I spent with my father.
Star Wars had just come out — I believe I was in the fourth grade. The special effects on this movie were supposed to be unbelievable, and they were. My father and I sat there, watching the action, eating our popcorn, in awe of the happenings on the screen… together. I think everyone who watched that movie at the theatre remembers it with fondness and wonder — movies give us wonder. We wonder if it’s possible to fly a spaceship or fall in love with a stranger or befriend a gorilla. Movies put wonder in us all, no matter how old we get — wonder abounds at the movies.
There’s something about the movies. It’s not even the movie itself — it’s the theatre and the big screen and the mood lighting and the sound surrounding you. It’s sitting next to someone you love and holding hands. It’s resting your head on a shoulder and leaning in for a kiss from your crush. It’s laughter and tears — felt by hundreds at once. It’s singing along to the Time Warp and dressing in character at midnight. It’s hissing the bad guy and applauding at the end. It’s staying for the credits… because that part is just as interesting. It’s sitting in the balcony just to say you did. It’s gathering outside to relive the good parts. Movies are magical and whimsical and even when the movie is forgettable… going to the movies isn’t. There’s just something about the movies.
Now, once again, back to my wonderful “girls day out” with my daughter. The movie ended but the day together didn’t. We continued to hold hands as we left the theatre. We talked about all those funny toys and we cringed when we spoke of the bad guy. I continued to stare at her amazing face — the wonder of it all. And I wonder what stories she’ll tell, what stories she’ll remember and if her stories will include something about the movies — I hope her stories include something about the movies.
