Rejuvenation this weekend looked like a mock-Alamo Drafthouse night with my friends, Gerry & Madeline — the only two people I’ve let into my social distanced life since March. I saw them for the first time last weekend where we reminisced about pre-pandemic things we missed. One of those things was going to the movies, specifically the Alamo Drafthouse’s cinematic experience with custom pre-shows and great food and drinks. So, good friends as I have, they had the idea of recreating it as best as we could from their home.
Last night we watched Thor: Ragnorak, ordered Domino’s pizza, and opened a few bottles of really nice wine. Gerry even created a custom pre-roll before the movie of Youtube clips that tangentially related, very Alamo Drafthouse style.
I didn’t realize how much I truly missed it all. Hanging out with friends in-person. Connecting with these two long-time Austin friends and feeling so known. After the movie, they even offered (unprompted) to watch a few Avatar episodes (their first time watching) and I got to see the season two finale with them (which is both amazing and still a little traumatizing for me).
At some point, it was decided I was sleeping over since the wine kept flowing (rideshares aren’t really a thing during a pandemic, or at least not something I’m risking). But it was so needed. Even talking about the hard stuff going on in the world right now felt cathartic to do face-to-face with people I trusted deeply.
We toasted friendship with shots and made travel plans and I slept soundly in their guest room.
Today I have done practically nothing, nursing a hangover, but I’m also calmer than I’ve felt in a few weeks. It felt like rest instead of laziness — no guilt attached. Wow, wow did I need that last night. Sometimes the universe throws you a bone, but I got a whole feast when I ended up with the good of friends like these in my life.
With Love,
Natalie