Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Same as it ever was

When I had my two strokes more than 13 years ago, I was 50 years old. In the ensuing years I’ve had some health issues related to my strokes and other assorted “age related” things. In May of 2023, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. As a result I have endured two years of pain and the resulting lack of exercise. That summer I tried to walk regularly but my heel pain was too extreme. I tried to do exercises to relieve the pain but nothing helped. In September of 2023 I asked my doctor to give me a shot of Cortizone. We were headed to Boston for meetings and then headed to Maine. I just wanted to enjoy the trip without pain. It helped a lot. Six months later I had the same pain. I went to an orthopedic doctor who prescribed minor physical therapy. It worked for a bit and then the pain got worse. In September of 2024, my regular doctor gave me another round of Cortizone shots so I could travel to Phoenix. It really helped. For a while. In February of 2025, the pain got worse. I went ...

January

January 10th was the 13th anniversary of my first stroke. After 18 days in the hospital (including my second massive stroke were I lost almost everything) we celebrated my son’s seventh birthday. I wanted to celebrate my son‘s birthday but I had no idea the sensory overload would cause. The flashing lights, the unbearable noise of the crowds and the music, and loud conversations caused me to panic. In the midst of my brain damaged confusion, I had to go to the bathroom. At that point I really didn’t know how to navigate the restaurant even though I had been there many times. I didn’t know the concept of letters and I didn’t know what “men” and “women” were on the doors. My little son gripped my hand and said, “Daddy… I will take you to the bathroom.” Stumbling through the crowded restaurant I was scared. My son guided me to the proper door and asked if I needed any more help. After I finished I came out and he grabbed my hand and took me back to the booth. In January this year, We cele...

Brain damage and social media

Recently I deactivated my Facebook account. I needed a time out to consider my options. There are so much vitriol in the political world and often it is spread by Donald Trump, MAGA, and Fox News. I understand that everybody has a different opinion. Even though I have been a Republican for decades, I cannot support nor understand Trump and his policies.  The reason I paused Facebook was for two instances where relatives of mine dismissed my concerns. I was disgusted when Trump pardoned all of the January 6th rioters. It was unconscionable for him to pardon people who assaulted and beat police officers. It’s ironic that the law and order party had no problems allowing police officers to be assaulted and beaten. Yet one of my relatives said that it was a peaceful protest and they should never have gone to jail. Another relative said that January 6 was staged like a Hollywood production. I was absolutely flabbergasted. Disgusting perspective.  In the midst of the confirmation bat...