Our nearest movie theater is in an expansive hotel/office/restaurant complex in the county seat. There is a large, indoor parking garage. Elevators transport you from the parking decks to the levels of the complex where you can dine, drink, see a movie, visit the health club and check into the hotel.
After I became disabled from a severe stroke in 1999, date nights became limited to things that required minimal physical activity so we usually went to the movies about once a week. Watching movies is notoriously not the best type of date to foster a connection as you sit beside each other in silence. We had been accustomed to going on hikes and many other physical pursuits together. One of many adjustments we made was switching to sedentary pursuits like dinners out and going to the movies.
I always enjoyed going to movie theaters. Spending time with my husband in this way was a pleasure that remained following so many losses. Choosing a movie together, purchasing snacks, riding in the car, and watching the show culminated in a degree of engagement.
The part of going with my husband that I didn’t like was walking from the car to the box office. The elevators brought us up to the box office level from the parking deck and we stepped out into a corridor about the length of a football field. It was level and carpeted so it was relatively easy for me…
