By Cathy Jameson

One of my kids’ favorite pastimes is watching movies.  As soon as they hear something good is going on the big screen, they make plans to see it.  It’s a sweeter treat when my husband gets to go with them.  Back when we started dating, he and I would go to the movies often.  These days, it’s their turn to go out with Dad.  During those outings, I stay home with Ronan and will look forward to watching whatever they’ve gotten to see.  When it’s streaming, with all of us gathered in the den, with popcorn and drinks ready, it’s always a good night when it’s family movie night.

Every now and then a movie has me thinking about it long after the tv has been turned off.  When I see a film with a storyline that has some sort of escape scene, I start thinking about what we’d do.  It wasn’t the best movie out there, and it was many years ago that we watched the 2006 film, Poseidon.  But every few years I think about what the passengers went through, and wonder could we – with the kids – go through the terror scenes in that movie?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdOBjf33K5I

It’s a little doomsday-ish, I know.  I’ve always had an active imagination though.  I can’t help but think beyond what’s on screen sometimes and play it out in my mind.

I think, goodness, if we ever experienced anything like what we see in movies, we’d be goners.  With as much assistance as he needs physically, Ronan would weigh us down.  With how unaware of danger as he is, it would be incredibly hard to navigate the types of situations the passengers in Poseidon had to navigate.  Fortunately, we have not experienced any of that ever.  We have had some other scary situations, like Ronan wandering on a cold, dark night and us managing medical woes. Fortunately, with both of those we’ve gotten through to the other side unscathed.   

Last week, during two stay-at-home snow days, we ended up watching a few movies together.  The first was 1917.  I again, played out some of the scenes in my head after watching the movie.  1917 had me thinking about what we’d do if we all found ourselves in the same position the soldiers faced.  Could we escape and live?  Could we survive a terrible war without resources?  Could we manage a foreign country on our own?  Could Ronan do what we needed him to do to get out of harry situations?  I shuddered thinking about all of that. 

Then we saw 2012.  It was a little dramatic and unrealistic, but the family’s story in the movie is what got me. 

Could we escape a natural disaster?  Could we do that safely with Ronan?  Not to the level seen in the movie, but we have weathered a storm or two before.  That winter storm had us seeking assistance from others while being displaced from our home.  For days.  While sick.  With my husband overseas for work.  We weren’t dealing with bureaucrats or avoiding massive earthquakes or running from epic flooding that saw millions perish, but we did survive intense moments, and so did Ronan. 

He always amazes me. 

He always has. 

The recent snowstorm soon stopped, and life returned to normal.  Early the next morning, the others returned to work and school.  I was going in to work later in that day and could enjoy some quiet time before Ronan woke up.  Once he was up and ready for his day, I heard a very familiar song.  It was from a very familiar movie, one that I always enjoy rewatching.  It’s one that Ronan absolutely adores. 

Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka has been a favorite for a very long time.  He listens to the opening credit’s music frequently and will sometimes get caught in a loop unable to change to a new song.  It’s one that I don’t mind hearing over and over again.  The movie is simple, it’s heartwarming, it was watched at a time that Ronan was not sick – which makes me think it brings him back in time to when life was simpler, easier, and less scary for him. 

Because it and other parts of the movie brings him peace, it brings me peace, too. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y8aYd9uqFY

Now, if ever we got caught in a situation like Charlie Bucket faces at the end of the movie, I know that we as a family would absolutely survive.  We’d be thrilled in fact, at the prospect! Today, I’m dreaming about a chocolate river. 
I hope you’re dreaming about something peaceful today also. 

Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.