Cleopatra and High Plains Drifter!

I love movies. I've always loved movies. Some of my earliest memories were about movies.

In Twin Falls there was an afternoon movie and after school sometimes I would watch old classic movies. When my mom had a day off at work, sometimes we would close the drapes, make popcorn and watch old black and white movies. "Sorry, Wrong Number" was one of Mom's favorites!

My dad liked to go to drive-in movies. I have a great memory of Dad making corned beef and cabbage and then taking the stew to the drive-in movie! This way, he would enjoy the meal, his beer, and his Pall Malls….

When my stroke happened, I know that they were concerned about my comprehension. Could I watch a movie? Because I had trouble with reading -- still do -- could I follow plots characters, etc. because they believed that I had to have had memory losses because it's the severity of my stroke, would I be too frustrated to watch a movie or a TV show or news on television?

In those dark days I was so scared that I didn't even think about things like movies, art and books.

Because I was so terrified when the second stroke happened my family and my friends took shifts in the hospital making sure that I wasn't alone.

A great friend of mine who had a mother who had a stroke, started to read aloud to me. That was a break through. Though I couldn't communicate very well, I followed along and I retained the information.

On Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 5:30, the nurse brought my dinner. The food was surprisingly good at the hospital but I felt that I was getting to be like Pavlov's dog! "Dinner at 5:30!" I digress!

Alone with my dinner, I was secure enough that my friends and my family didn't have to be with me. Actually, I wanted to be alone for the first time.

I decided to watch "High Plains Drifter," an old Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western.

This was a test for me. I was alone. It would be a long movie. I wasn't sure that I could follow the plot. Could I concentrate?

After the movie I realized I could follow everything about the movie. I remembered the actors and actresses. I remember the plot line.

This was probably a small victory in the scheme of things, but I was so happy.

Even now, 16 months later, that movie is a vivid memory for me.

Unsure of my future, at least I have movies!

Yesterday I went to the Regal Cinemas and watched "Cleopatra" on the big screen. This was a one day showing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cleopatra experience.

I went early just in case that I couldn't get in. There was no problem because they're only two people in the Theater!

But, alone (almost literally) I watched this classic movie. I relished the experience, my independence, and my love of movies and art.

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