A Possible Mission

Today, I went to see a movie.  By myself.  If I were Captain Jack Sparrow, I'd say I went "by me onesies."  I've never done that before!  In all my forty years, I've never taken myself to a movie without friends, or a date, or family, or a group of some kind with me.  I distinctly remember eating at a restaurant by myself for the first time--it was in college, at my first job--and I found the experience strange, but liberating.  I liked the part about picking my own place, according to my own taste, and entertaining myself by reading or writing or working on homework.

The movie experience was sort of like that.  Strange at first, but a little liberating.  Today was a perfect day for it--golf got canceled because it was raining, so I went to the gym instead, and then decided today was the day to head to the movies alone.  I really, really love going to movies.  Truth. I love the whole experience--using my Stubs card, choosing popcorn and soda or a pretzel or candy or both, picking out the exact right seat, watching the previews, sitting in a dark theater, and letting the story wash over me for two hours or so.  No responsibilities beyond enjoying my snacks and the plot. LOVE it.

But would it be the same without my people?  Hm.  Today, I chose Mission Impossible, not because I am a huge Tom Cruise fan, but because the other choices were not what I had in mind.  In a perfect world, there would have been a lovely chick flick on, but alas.  Trainwreck had "strong language, nudity, sexual content, and ribald humor," and I'm not sure I want to be in a theater watching these things by myself . . . .  The other movies were Minions and Inside Out and scary things, so Tom Cruise it was.  And it was pretty good!

I made a point of ordering my snacks with PURPOSE and choosing my seats according to MY fave place to sit--back right, in those seats on a platform (more leg room, and it feels a little bit like a throne dais :-) ).  After getting prepared, I settled in for previews and people-watching.  Also in the theater on this rainy Wednesday:  two families, an older man by himself, two couples, and two dudes who left not one, but THREE courtesy seats between themselves but then proceeded to talk to each other across the divide.

The movie was what it was supposed to be--shooting, chasing, running, driving, motorcycles, international intrigue.  Quite enjoyable!  But no one to make eye-rolls to when Tom Cruise saved the world by holding his breath for over three minutes or beating up four baddies with his hands and feet in shackles or hanging on to the OUTSIDE of a plane during liftoff.  So that was kinda sad.

Verdict:  I'm glad I went!  Shows me that next time there's a period drama based on a Regency-era novel, and I can't drag anyone else with me, I can totally go it alone.  No more missing out!!