Eating in the Dark

I don't know what you do when your life gets complicated, jammed up or out of whack, but I go to the movies. There's something soothing about sitting in the dark with a soda, box of popcorn and a giant room full of strangers who are sharing your laughter, tears and utter amazement at the great events on the big screen.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the matinee at the oldest theatre in town. The Lincoln has been in the entertainment business since 1921 when it opened with four vaudeville acts and a silent movie. Some of the famous stars who were actually in the theatre were Ginger Rogers and the Marx Brothers. Wow! How could you top that!

I think it's sad that so few people are still going to the movies like we used to. I remember the excitement of going to Saturday matinees in the mid to late 50's with my friends or younger sibling. You could sit there for hours watching the same show and cartoons over and over again. Maybe that's why my idea of Heaven looks a lot like a musical comedy with kaleidoscope dance numbers and songs by the Gershwins, Rogers and Hammerstein or Cole Porter!

I got downtown with plenty of time to spare before showtime, bought my ticket, and used the rest of my wait time to wander over to the old Ben Franklin store (that for legal reasons, I guess, has dropped the Franklin from their name.) Inside it's the same, cozy, whatnot shop it's always been, with the addition of a lot more decorating and craft paraphernalia since they bought out and broke through the walls of an adjoining store.

Of course, I went into the store needing absolutely Nothing, and still bought something. This place is almost irresistible. My grand purchases were a 4th of July placemat, new Sudoku book, and some tiny packs of candy for the movies. It cost me a grand total of $3 and tax. What a bargain!

I have to tell you, the Junior Mints were the best I've ever had. They came in teeny, tiny boxes, sealed in plastic, and were so fresh and yummy and--what can I say--heavenly!

The remake of the Karate Kid was fantastic and the occasional, visual links to the original were funny and great! My best friend had just seen the movie and highly recommended it. She has yet to steer me wrong.

So here I was, sitting in the dark, eating my popcorn and candy, taking some chill time to recharge my reserves, and learning life lessons from another movie.

What a great way to enjoy Life!

Or in the words of my old porch rock*

Please turn me over.
Ah, that feels better!

(Translation for those of you who don't know me that well.)

*Porch rock: a fist sized rock that sat by my front door on the porch for nearly 20 or 30 years.

It didn't actually talk, but it did have those words written on the top and bottom of it. I still have it, somewhere.