Hunger Games: Did This Happen To You?

 When the theater ushers opened the doors,  it was like watching Walmart shoppers on Black Friday. Bumped and jostled, with popcorn and a drink in hand,  we made our way to our seats.  Parents and kids were trampling one another to get a good seat.  That was the first disturbing thing.  I have an in-law that likes to use that term liberally.  "How was the trip to the store?" He would answer with a sound resembling  the old Buick my parents had.  He stopped, started and then he would say,"It was very disturbing."  His forlorn tone would immediately evoke, "OHHHH! Why?"  From there he would go into an in-depth synopsis of why someone's behavior, or lack there of,  was disturbing.  Interesting...

On the screen are the endless previews.  I hear screams coming from all around me.  Mainly from girls.  I know, go figure.  They can't wait.  The movie starts and the screams in stereo come full circle.  Between this, the  50 X 100 screen, and the increasing volume of the previews it was a little too much.  That's about when the Blair Witch like recording began.  

Jerky camera moves, greasy popcorn and I do not make a good combination.  Then the plot begins to unfold.  If you haven't seen the movie or read the book don't worry.  I won't give too much away.

 It wasn't that clear to me if it was the present day or future.  It looked like Coal Miners Daughter meets Alice in Wonderland.  Basically, in this particular place areas are divided up into districts. Kind of like counties.  In this state, for lack of a term that adequately describes the area as a whole, there is a lottery.  The lottery is for ages 12-18.  Parents bring their kids to this outdoor arena and the ruler of the state draws names from a glass jar.  She draws 24 names total, 12 girls and 12 boys.  

After drawing the names she says, "May the odds be ever in your favor."  The children are then taken to a remote, jungle like, area.  They are visibly scared, not really knowing what to do but they know what they must do.  Out of 24 only 1 can come home.  The 24 children fight to the death. The clock ticks and each time a killing happens everyone knows it, including the parents.  The killings are basically Skyped to everyone.

Before agreeing to take my middle schooler to see the movie, I did know what the premise of the movie was.  I knew but until it was right in front of me it didn't hit me.  

It took 3 days before I began to feel better.  My stomach was upset.  It was so upset I couldn't eat a lot.  I was literally sick to my stomach.  Maybe it was because I couldn't stomach what I was seeing.  

Zoie: A Love Story

Oh, it's been such a difficult summer.  I didn't think things could get more difficult but they have.  Always interesting how that works.  I've spent the past couple of days in a tear-streaked stupor.  Not really sure what to do.  I know what I need to do.  I just need to carefully think things through.  As a parent of a 14 year-old and an 11 year-old it's not just about me.  I have to be ready.

Our 21 year-old cat, yes I said cat, has come to the end of her journey on the earth.  It's time to let her go.  It just makes me so sad I can hardly stand it.  She's been a part of my life for 21 years but I just can't stand to see her in the condition she is in.  It's hard for her to get up and down.  She virtually stopped eating yesterday.  Yesterday I realized I needed to do something.  Call the vet and explain the situation they are already aware of.  The situation they deal with on a regular basis.  I don't though. My husband does.  They say it's time.

My husband has already been feeding the kids the truth slowly.  Bit by bit.  Little conversations about how Zoie isn't doing very well.  Telling them, "You know, Zoie is 21.  She's pretty old."  The past couple of days we've all just been hanging out in our bedroom with Zoie.  Giving her plenty of love.  Gently giving that love because at this point she is so very fragile.

It's time to let her go.  I went ahead and talked to her.  Spoke in a soft voice telling her she can go.  Letting her know everything would be okay and at the same time reassuring myself, but I can hardly breath.