I didn't expect to see my future in a movie theater bathroom line at the AMC in the Tyler Mall – but life has a funny way of revealing itself. A friend shared with me an idea that blew his mind: your future has already been revealed to you. A few weeks ago, I got a glimpse of what fatherhood will look like.
When I first moved to Riverside, the first location I looked for was a movie theater. I was ecstatic to find there was one less than 10 minutes away from my home. Since moving to the city of innovation, I've made the cinema my second home.
It was the first place I was able to get to without the help of Maps. If work was finished early, you bet your butt a ticket was already reserved for a movie at the end of the shift. Anytime my wife and I have some free time, the movies are always the number one option brought up.
I'm shocked they haven't offered to install a plaque in my usual seat. Oh, well.
Recently, my wife and I decided to catch a showing of the Ryan Gosling space adventure film, "Project Hail Mary" and it did not disappoint. The film captures the importance of community, regardless of differences, but it was long, clocking in at over two hours.
Best believe I held my restroom trip to the end of the film – I did not want to miss a single beat, a sign of the movie's strength.
As soon as it was over, I made my way to the restroom where there was a line. On my way out, I caught a glimpse of my future. Waiting in line was a father-son duo. The moment was short, yet the exchange had a lasting effect on me.
Dad told son, "The same guy who wrote 'The Martian,' wrote the book based on 'Project Hail Mary.'" It was a small moment – one generation passing something down to the next, sharing what excites them and trying to get their kid to come along on the ride. And then I walked out where my wife, who's currently pregnant, waited for me.
At that very moment, I saw my future. My love for movies will be a part of how I experience fatherhood. I cannot wait to watch films with my kid, I cannot wait to show them the same movies I watched and adored as a kid. If they don't feel the same way about them, so be it.
That is not the point. The point is having a conversation with your kid, trying to understand each other, and trying to learn from one another.
As long as the AMC at the Tyler Mall is still around, it'll be part of my future with my family.
The showing of "Project Hail Mary" was packed. It was a Friday night on premiere day. Empty seats were limited. There's nothing like watching a film with a room full of strangers. But what's better is talking about it with your kid afterward.
