Tonight I am taking myself to the movies. Last time I saw a movie in NYC was in January, and that was an excellent show. The movie’s start time is listed as 10:50 so I am going to be at the theater until the next day rolls around. When I was picking out my seats, all recliners were available for me to pick. Rows A-L were wide open, so I am entering an empty house.
At my university we are taught to explore the depths of creativity through multiple mediums. You don’t have to be the next Steven Spielberg to pick up a camera and shoot your shot. One of my friends who still lives in Chicago recently uploaded her song to SoundCloud. I know she has slowly been building her portfolio of songs and grooves. She’s only been doing so for the last year. I am not only listening out of my love for anything she does, but because I think it’s amazing that she’s putting her work out there. Many people never work up the courage to actually hit “Post." Today’s song of the day is “Orb Explosion” by my dear friend, Aidan.
Gaining my sense of smell back was overwhelming. I went from struggling to breathe and sweating in a 69 degree room to embracing every sensation. I don’t know if my night sweats were real or if they were a hallucination from the NyQuil I’ve been taking. I took the recommended amount, and I still couldn’t discern reality from illusion. Now, I understand why they always ask to see my ID when I go to buy it.
Later in the morning, I wanted to go out, but a thunderstorm was looming over New York. The storm didn’t last long, and something odd happened. When the thunder slowed and the sun began peeking its head once again, my body responded. The storm had subsided, but so had my cold. The clouds parted, and my nostrils opened up. I wanted to seize the rest of the day, so I went outside.
Part of me felt like the nervous and uneasy scene from Beau is Afraid where he explores the city after being cooped up, and another part of me felt curious. There’s just so much going on in the city right now. I, myself, have been distancing myself from the general public as to protect others from getting sick, so going outside meant embracing the strong character of the city.
When I first saw Beau is Afriad, I walked out of the movie especially confused. I couldn’t follow the plot, and I had yet to open my eyes to a movie that was as outlandish as this one. However, now that I watch it again, I understand the anxiety he was facing. In three short days, alone, locked up in my Rapunzel’s Tower, I have to relearn society. I will never understand how I made it through the pandemic. To be free, healthy, and clear of any problems is a blessing. Tonight I celebrate by taking myself to the movies.
TJL