The Working Wanderer

Soooo, funny story…..

It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday in Brooklyn and I was sooo ready to see this movie!  This movie being Grease!  It was the 40th anniversary of when the movie first premiered and Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies was airing a remastered version in theaters for 3 days only!

Growing up this movie was life!  Everything you wanted to be, everything you wanted your guy to be, your friends to be!  I grew up with the movie on repeat.  A glimpse into what I thought my future high school years would look like *Laughing out loud right now*  Nonetheless, the movie resonates still.  The ideal love story. A little bit of struggle, a whole lotta fun! And in the end, all LOVE.

Ok, I digress! Let’s get back to the story!

I purchased the tickets for this event a month prior. The day came and it was a wonderful day to celebrate 40 years of cinematic perfection.  I met with my sister and picked up my niece-we wanted her to join in on the magic of what was, what still is, & what will always be one of the greatest musical movies ever made!  

We got there early so grabbed great seats, of course.  We bought our concessions and patiently waited for the viewing as other Grease lovers piled in. We waited, and waited, and waited.  The theater was completely packed now.  The show was for 2pm.  Two o’clock rolls around, still nothing playing on the screen.  The lights turn on in the theater and an usher comes to make an announcement.  Everyone froze, sitting at the edge of our seats nervously awaiting the news he’s about to give us. 

“We are having problems with the file that was sent to us, were working to fix it, but it will be after 2pm.”

Confusion set in.  Uneasiness.  Worry.  Panic.  What if it doesn’t play??  Then what? We’ve waited 34 years to watch this movie in theaters!  Grease came out in 1978, I was born in 1984.  I was 6 years late!  So, to my dismay this movie not playing would be SOUL CRUSHING! 

About 15-20 minutes later he came back with another announcement.  Like a lightning bolt through our hearts, “The show is cancelled.”  I just couldn’t believe that something planned weeks in advance could just be cancelled at the last minute like that! A theater full of people and not even a test run was completed beforehand? I just didn’t get it. And frankly I was pissed.  We all were.  

They proceeded to tell us that they will refund us the cost of tickets and concessions along with an extra movie pass.  Which is nice and all BUT we want to see the movie!!! When we went to the box office we processed all our refunds and I asked if there’s any way we can reschedule a show (since there was 2 more days left that the movie would play in theaters, even though I was worried all the shows might be sold out).  The clouds parted and the sun shone through!  He fit us in to the 7pm show that following Wednesday! Woohoo!

Fast forward to Wednesday! I ran out of work to make it there early because here I’m worried there will be a long line to get in.  Alright, I exaggerated!  I was the first one there. *crickets*  Once again, movie lovers slowly begin to come in and this is where the magic starts.  It’s amazing how the little things in life as simple as a movie can bring people together.  Most of the time we’re riding the trains/buses without so much of even an acknowledgment.  But here as each person walks in, we greet one another with a 40 year old excitement!  Like a family who hasn’t seen each other in years. 

Finally came the time for the movie to commence!  It was EVERYTHING I thought it would be!  Musical movie magic at its finest!  Singing along, dancing along, true joy.  The memories of my entire life brought to life on screen!  Past love, heartbreaks, friendships all reenacted in the forefront of my mind.  Satisfaction, contentment.  Looking back, I realize that the path I have walked was meant only for me.  Mistakes that I have made, obstacles I’ve overcome, triumphs, tribulations, achievements. The girl I was when I first saw this movie has now grown into a woman. I’m not that little girl anymore. I have responsibilities, a family. Its crazy how a movie can snap you back into reality. That although you live a busy life with kids and work and school and whatever else you have going on, it’s moments like these that remind you of the small moments that matter most. To take a breath, sit back, and appreciate the little things in life.

So on that note…”Wop baba lumop a wap bam boom!”

And always remember “Grease is the word!”

Btw! Look out for more classic movies on the Big Screen through https://www.fathomevents.com/series/tcm-big-screen-classics

There’s a lot of great ones coming soon! (Like West Side Story & Big!). Maybe I’ll see you there!