I walked up the movie theater stairs carefully in the dark as the pre-show played behind me. My seat in the back row, near the middle, near exactly where I like it, was waiting for me on
In college, I’d go to opening nights as well, buy tickets for my friends and have them wait in line with me for a few hours so we could get the seat I wanted. (The best improvement of this decade has been the popularization of reserved seats in movie theaters). It’s how I knew they loved me when I so clearly loved the movie and loved the experience more than they did. It became obvious after college when I moved away and they stopped going to opening nights. Or seeing the same movies I did. At first, I was stunned that I had been pulling the reins back then more than I thought, but then I saw them for what they were: good friends.
That’s what this is now, I think, continuing up the stairs. Good friends. Who probably also want to see the movie but have turned over how they see it to me. Three years ago I would not have had these seats filled. It might just have been me. And okay, sometimes it still is me because I like seeing movies alone too, but sharing big movies with others makes it more exciting. I love all the hype and build-up.
And they say “thank you” for planning this like I’ve done them a favor when it’s the opposite. Their presence normalizes my crazy and normalizes my life. I go to a movie with friends on a Thursday night. I have a drink, I have dinner, I like the movie, I hug them goodbye or say “see you tomorrow” in the parking garage. And through every beat I say thank you, thank you, thank you for this slice of life that is good, and real, and mine.
With Love,
Natalie