Monday, June 27, 2011

the starring act

i went to the movie theater twice this weekend. twice! the theater on main street where i went on  my very first date. the one that used to have a line out the door every weekend. it's now been reduced to showing older, $1 movies. which makes it even better, though it's attracted quite a following of tweenage loiters, and you shouldn't go to any 9:35 p.m. screenings lest you fear for your life a little bit.

for me, one of the greatest feelings in life has to be those five minutes when leaving the movie theater. stepping into the dark parking lot after being in a room full of strangers for two hours. when you're still in that half-dream state and everything is glowing. where, for a little bit, it seems that anything at all is possible.

that you can run away from the love of your life and turn to find him standing in the rain where you left him. or walk away from the same man and turn back to find him walking away too,  but with his head turned back at you. that you can ride elephants in the circus and fall in love with the stable boy. or break up an ill-fated wedding just in time to rescue the groom from a life of splendid, unwanted riches, and flash forward a few months later, and you're picking up his dry cleaning.

but perhaps the second greatest feeling is snapping out of that haze. driving home on the highway, and it hits you. that you don't have to paint your lips or plan a covert mission to capture the man of your dreams. you don't have to wear chanel or louboutins to stand out. you can be yourself, in a little honda. in sweatpants and no makeup and a bun. and you're still the star. of your sweet, simple, beautifully undramatic, little life.

19 comments:

Nicole P. said...

i love this. :)

kate said...

aww this was perfect. i love the end. i think i know both of the movies you saw too. theres always something a little magical about the movies :)

DaisyGirl said...

Perfect ending!

Breeanna @ a brilliant melody said...

You write so beautifully! You described perfectly how I feel when I leave the movies. It's like you had been in another world for those 2 hours.

Thanks for following my blog and for your sweet comment.

I'm your newest follower!

Unknown said...

So happy you wen to the movies twice! How fun! And again, such wonderful writing! And I think I will have another party to celebrate being done with the move - it will feel great.

Southhamsdarling said...

Beautiful little post, and I loved the ending!

Amy said...

You still write so beautifully. I love this post. Makes me want to go to a movie theatre that only charges $1 for older movies...such a great idea for the way the economy is. Justin and I would go every night just because we love going to the movies together. And I love how wonderful and lovely those movies are, you know the ones where you can find your loved one waiting for you at the airport. Que the music and the running and the arms go flying around his neck and kiss! Ahhh!

P.S. I love that song too! It cracked me up the first time I heard it!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

what movies did you see?

McKinley {Haolepinos} said...

so so so so true!! This is very cute. I have never thought of it like that before... and now I will.

I love to think of the 1930's with the classic hollywood, that because of the Great Depression people were able to go to the theaters to escape and become a character in the plot! That they had nooooooooooo money except that nickle in their pocket and chose to spend it in the theaters. It is amazing to see how entertainment can bring so many positive emotions.

Amber said...

well i think you saw Water for Elephants for sure but I cant pinpoint the second film. I wish I could find a dollar movie theater near me. When I lived in Texas there was one near where I lived and my mother would take my brother and me all the time.

Eleanor at Mirror Of My World said...

you honestly write so well and so beautifully! i love reading your posts. <3 x

Tiffany said...

Love love love it. As always. You have such a way of taking every-day experiences and making them into something great.

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com

erika said...

Perfect!

vintch said...

@ren and amber: i saw water for elephants and something borrowed. perfect chick flicks/love stories for this girls-only weekend:)

Anonymous said...

I love the way you write- it is so enchanting! You make me wish I was in the movies right now :)

Tina said...

thought i recognised the water for elephants part in your writing! i also agree with HazelandMare, i decided to follow you after reading your beautiful writing :)

Amanda @ New Adventures said...

This is so sweet! I just love reading your posts :) I love the movies- they remind me to dream big and anything is possible plus I love fairytales!

Feed the Birdies Vintage said...

I love this post! :) You are right, there is some kind of a haze that lingers for just a bit...like you were on the screen with them. I want to go see both of those movies...time to call some girlfriends!

Anonymous said...

Dearest Courtney,

Your blog is more than a beautiful book.
I cherish your words.
They are speechlessly beautiful!

I relate to the two feelings you described--the latter of which I was never able to feel before when He made me a part of my family.

I am so grateful that we are given our lives by such a loving God whose love prevails always.

Love you.
-AKK

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