The movies are coming back. They’re the first part of normalcy to take place in a large multi-seat auditorium (Broadway and other events are still either closed or playing without live audiences), so folks do seem nervous about returning and enjoying the entertainment. The news media covered local re-openings, and there were no lines outside the box office. It didn’t matter to me. I’m going. I have my mask, my anti-bacterial gel and a clean bill of health, so better to go now and enjoy while the place is still relatively germ-free (and before they possibly shut down again–heaven forbid–when the crowds start to gather in time for the Friday feature).
I have been anxiously awaiting the trailer for Dune, which is scheduled to open in December in time for the holidays, so when I heard that it would probably be running with whatever was being shown in early September, I grabbed the opportunity to do dinner and a movie. I picked the latest big budget movie called Tenet for my first venture into a post-shutdown film. Got two movie tickets.
Unfortunately it will turn out to be a solo date for me, myself, and I. And the process of refunding one ticket.
My movie friend finally got back to work, and she sadly noted that she will be leaving work for the evening just when the movie is starting. My other friend, a neighbor, picked up a throat infection and is having too much trouble concentrating on eating, drinking and trying to sleep without discomfort for sharing any enthusiasm about a movie. Her whole holiday weekend is likely shot.
That’s happened before when Mulan was canceled. I had the tickets and we were ready to go, when everything shut down. It’s deja view at the movies. I can’t seem to get a chance to go with somebody to anything lately.
I had the chance to reserve my luxury recliner chair at the theater, so I picked our favorite seat location. The seating around me (which would’ve been us) appears to be empty, so I may well find myself sitting in a nearly barren auditorium, or with the next patron seated in the nosebleed section too far away to matter. It will probably seem like watching a DVD at home, except more expensive and with a lingering smell of popcorn in the air.
Once I sat with my movie friend for an opera broadcast of Carmen, and we were alone in the house because of a soaking thunderstorm. Not to mention a seeming lack of joy for such performance art on a big screen on a weekday evening. We had a ball anyway.
The restaurants opened up to a quarter capacity for indoor dining, too, so it will be dinner and a movie for one. Indoors at a table. Imagine that. No outdoor tables with umbrellas, heat and insects. Actually sitting at a restaurant and being served a meal. And by myself. No party of two for me.
But I am anticipating this one will be a ball anyway, because it’s closer to normal. Soon it will be that way for all of us. And I’ll tip well.
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