Thursday, December 25, 2008

Lets Go to the Movies...

When we were growing up, we lived in Miami. All of our extended family lived (and still live) in Virginia, so we celebrated with friends and in some different ways. One thing we did was go to the movies. "Back then" (as if it was ions ago!!) that was not a big activity. But let me tell you, now it is!!

I noticed this when tons of movies save their opening for Christmas Day. But nothing prepared me for what happened today.

This fall I read Marley to the kids. (its the kids version of Marley and Me) We loved it! Its a great book. Reminded me so much of my childhood dog, Barkley. I was so excited about the movie. We decided we'd take the kids today. My mom, dad, and Joy and my cousin Trudy and her son Paul all decided to go too.

We decided on the last matinee at 4:50. My dad ran out to get the tickets early, no problem. We got to the movie theater at about 4:40 or so...TOO LATE. The theater was PACKED. We could not find seats together. Trudy and Paul found 2 seats together. Joy sat alone. Jody sat in one seat with Silas. And I? I sat with Hattie, Luke, and Millie on the FRONT ROW. Oh, and my parents left. My dad hates crowds like that and he wasn't thrilled about the movie anyway. I don't think there was another seat. Why did they oversell the theater???

My parents complained along with several others. My mom is totally an "American Consumer". She has a way with words and she and my dad walked out with a full refund AND 9 movie tickets.

Meanwhile, I was pretty miserable. My neck, my eyes, and my ears. My ears because Luke would NOT stop talking. I think the lady next to him was pretty annoyed. He commentated and asked questions throughout the entire movie. Where is Marley? WHy did he do that? Is Marley going to die? I'm going to be Marley and you will be Jenny. Etc...

The movie was not really for little kids. It was too much talking, too boring for Lukey. And of course the book was much better. But I did like the movie. It made me wish we had a family dog. But then I know I have WAY enough on my plate without a dog.

I was in a bad mood when we left. I don't think I will go to the movies on Christmas again. That wasn't fun.

Meanwhile,

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

We tried the movie thing a couple of times. I remember watching Home Alone as a family on Christmas Day. It can be fun, but maybe in the future you and Jody could just take in a movie on Christmas day. Or you, Hattie, Millie, Joy, and your mom could have a girls' movie trip and the fellas could do something together too. We tried that too.

I hope your day got better. Merry Christmas to you all, and Heather and I look forward to seeing you next week!

Andy

GE is me said...

Ummm, go mom & dad? -on the refund that is. I agree, why did they oversell the movie? That sounds totally ridiculous, I mean come on really! I'm glad they got a refund. Hope you & Jody get a movie/date night out of it. :)
-Gail

Stacy said...

Oh man! I'm sorry you had a terrible time! That would have been awful being split up like that! We went to Marley today too, but we went early so we were sure to get seats. I have been to a movie before when there were people coming in that couldn't sit together and the ushers just made them find a seat. Some people were nice enough to slide down one or two seats to make more empty seats together. You should have sat with Silas and handed Lukey off to Jody! You were right though, it wasn't a movie for kids. There was too much sexual connotations going on and I am just waiting for the questions to start!
That's pretty awesome that your Mom and Dad got all the money back, plus 9 movie tickets! WOO HOO! Way to go Pa and Dee Dee!

Pegsy said...

Oh dear! What a gong show! And I can just hear your mom and her "way with words!" Good for her! You were brave to sit with the 3 youngest - I would have gone home!

Tim said...

go on a tuesday, to the first matinee showing, 3 weeks after the movie comes out - that's when you can stretch your legs out on the seat in front of you, talk on your cell, throw popcorn at each other and really enjoy the flick... ...And YES, you definitely need another dog!

Sarah M. said...

I'd have NEVER guessed so many people would be at the theatre on Christmas day!!!
And my advise on the dog is,"Dogs are a nice IDEA, but a pain especially with a houseful of kids. Thankfully we found a nice home for our last attempt to be a dog family!

Anonymous said...

Oh Emily! I hope the rest of your holiday went better. Sorry I never got a chance to contact you over Christmas. I never ended up making it home because of flight problems through the Chicago area. Still had a nice Christmas here with some friends. Hope it works out to see you another time when I make it back home. My family was especially disappointed. Happy New Year!

Shaleen said...

I've been wondering how families would react to that movie! I read the book (not the kids version) and it was the saddest book I've ever read in my life. I also read it about a year after Samson died. After finishing it, I laid on the bed and literally SOBBED for about 15 minutes, alex thought I was crazy. I've been wondering how it would go over with children.