alone

when i was in high school i remember sitting in a movie theater with friends and watching this woman walk in alone. she sat down in the row in front of us just slightly to the right. i was so embarrassed for her. i remember thinking it would be better to not go to a movie than see one alone. at the time, that equaled serious humiliation.

once i was in college and early married, my embarrassment for people turned into compassion. i just plain felt bad for them. sad that they didn't have someone to watch with, sad that they were alone.

today, one of my favorite things to do is go to a movie alone. i love it because it's so opposite of the reality of my everyday life. there is no one to monitor. no one to talk to. i am responsible for nothing. no interruptions. i go and get lost for a few hours. i don't have to worry about it being too loud or too scary or too much skin.

now, don't get me wrong, i like going to movies with my husband. but at this time in our lives, it doesn't make sense. first the whole babysitter thing. but let's just say we did get a babysitter, the last thing i would want to do is go sit in a dark theater and not talk to him while we had time to ourselves. time to be able to finish a sentence - a thought - without getting interrupted.

i wonder if the young girls in the theater feel bad for me when they see me walk in a sit down alone. they have no idea it's a sweet reprieve - it's just the way i like it.

p.s. mom is doing better - if you want to see pictures of the time over there you can click here.