Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow

When I was a girl, my paternal grandmother (Mema) used to sing, "The sun'll come out tomorrow; bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun." Well I spent a lot of time with old Mema and thought she was a nut. I was so exhausted by her attempts to cheer up a quiet and cynical child (me, of course). Harsh, but I was basically five at the time. Then I saw the movie Annie.

And it was different. I was gripped by the hopeful quality of this sweet little orphan's voice as she continued to hold a candle for her parents though it was futile. "Maybe far away or maybe real nearby." That maybe- that possibility was always there. She was told nobody wanted her. She was told her place was scrubbing floors. She was always caught after her many escapes. Still, she turned her little face towards the window and never gave up hope. For two girls like my sister and I, who struggled to find their place in the world, this spoke volumes. But Annie not only gave me a home, it gave me movies.

Movies? It's a musical about an orphan with a happily-ever-after story. Yes, but-

Suddenly this very simple act of attending a movie theater became an adventure. It became an opportunity for someone who led a less than glamorous life to experience a whole different world. I had always been addicted to books, but I began to see how much more movies could be. Annie's reaction to seeing a movie for the first time taught me to have that same excitement- to appreciate small luxuries. I may be finding the perfect seat in the theater or popping an old favorite of mine in the DVD player, but when the film opens I still jump excitedly in my seat. It gets obnoxious.

Unfortunately, it became somewhat of an obsession. Not only did I start to praise movies, I became very critical. I try to understand movies based on their own terms instead of my own, but it proves to be difficult at times. So I'll just try to be fair. Movies and movie experiences should be shared. Join me or don't, but this stuff matters.