Sunday, October 15, 2006

Movies and Bocce

Yesterday I found myself with quite a bit of free time between doing research for school and meeting a friend, so I did something I haven't done in ages: I took myself to a movie.

I went to see The Last Kiss. I bought my ticket, decided against the oh-so American coke and popcorn (having just recovered from some crazy virus) and took my seat. I knew as soon as the previews came on that I had made the right choice. I love books and movies, and even movie previews for the exact same reason, I get to be transported to another world for minutes, hours, or even days if the book is a long one.

So I was actually a little disappointed by the movie when instead of transporting me to another world, it kept me right in my current one. No, I'm not pregnant or experiencing some sort of life crisis associated with an impending birthday...but the characters were not unlike many of the people I know. They made painfully unheroic decisions, they often did just what I might have done in the same situation, and there were no surprises.

When telling my friend about it later, I struggled to explain. The story was fine, I liked that it didn't tie up all loose ends, the acting was good...so why is it that I was somewhat disappointed? Am I so conditioned to happy endings, to feeling uplifted as the credits roll, to walking out of the theater with a renewed faith in humanity? Is that what movies are for?

It wasn't the worst $10.50 I've spent, and I didn't regret it, but things definitely got better when I met three friends at one of our favorite bars in Brooklyn. Complete with an outdoor garden,a basement music venue, book-lined walls, quirky food, and bocce ball, really who could ask for anything more?

After waiting an hour, we finally have our turn to bocce. (I have no idea if this is a verb.) We're playing, and I have just finished my turn when I hear, "Boo, you suck!" I look up to see none other than an old roommate who I haven't seen in two years. I almost didn't hug him hello after he publicly heckled me, but I quickly forgave and we spent some time catching up. Meanwhile, my friends finished the bocce ball game without me, and just to clear my name after the heckling, I should mention that my team was up 10-4 when I left and lost 11-15 once I was gone...

Okay, so there's my ramble. From mediocre movie experiences to a wonderful feeling of being right at home surrounded by food, competition, and friends. I've been pretty out of it recently, but hopefully I'll return to my typical blogging craziness, in much shorter doses...

No comments: