The Help, and why we need some help.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I went to see The Help yesterday with my cousins and their friends, all significantly, if you ask me and who else could you ask, older than I.  My cousin had gotten $6 discount tickets through her cable provider. What more do you need to attract the older crowd?  And it was a 4 pm showing.  What more do you need to attract the older crowd? Looking around the audience I could see that maybe 2% of the people were under 50.  A few adolescents were there, which strangely pleased me. There were certain advantages to the demographics.  There was no need to see over anyone, they were all short.  There was no raucous behavior, whatsoever.  I did find it somewhat amusing that a sweet young woman, who worked for the theater, stood up front before the show began. She explained where the exits were and that the movie staff was ready to help with any problems. It reminded me of the preflight routine the stewardesses   cabin crew go through on flights. The lovely gentleman to my left, a friend of my cousin’s who is 80 something, commented that clearly the staff knew their audience.  He also remarked that they should have had ambulances standing by. This did not seem quite so funny since I know he has an implanted defibrillator.

I was trying to ignore all of this and watch the movie. The movie was great. However, I kept thinking of my mother. She used to complain that this very same cousin and I were always mumbling to each other. We responded that we were not but she never believed us. I still don’t understand why people readily wear glasses but refuse hearing aids. But I digress. At times the actors either were mumbling, the music or background noise was too loud, or my hearing is not what it once was. Well, I know the latter is true and probably both of the formers too. From time to time, my cousin who was on my right asked what had been said. So I missed a little more dialog.  At home I often use subtitles. I say this is because I want to know every word, and I do. This often doesn’t help because the subtitles and closed captions sometimes don’t resemble what is being said. This becomes most apparent to me when the original movie I’m watching is in English : ) At any rate, all of this is one reason why going to the movies has become a rarity for me. Netflix is my friend. Now if Luca didn’t attack all creatures big and small on the screen life would be beautiful. In almost every other way I prefer movies at home. I do think this is one reason someone invented crates though.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh F, this is just too funny.  My DH and I are both starting to have "hearing difficulties" which makes things pretty interesting.  I've noticed that lately he's talking much louder than he ever did and he's resorted to watching all TV now with headphones....I couldn't handle the blaring sound of the Red Sox announcers permeating the house.  The good part about him talking louder is that at least now I can hear him.  I also find that it's getting much harder to watch something and carry on side conversations.  I used to be able to watch a show, talk on the phone and fold the laundry all at the same time.  Those days are over.  I agree with you though....it's much better to watch movies at home....and thank heavens for that rewind button.  You better watch out or your Doodles are going to hide the remote to prevent you from any more movie watching that lands them in jail.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This was an old picture. Luca is the only one who needs jail. Calla could not care less. The other night I was attempting to watch "Out of Africa" Luca needed jail for sure. Animals from dogs to lions. Oh dear. I find we avoid noisy restaurants now. We have a family event coming up next weekend with band and DJ I"m sure. I'll wear earplugs and nod my head, hoping I'm not agreeing to something I'll regret.

[Carol and Banjo]

LOL F!    Oh how things change!    I've become my Dad....I never understood why his television was blaring for all the neighbors to hear...and commented on it all the time whenever I visited.     Two night ago my daughter dropped by while we were watching Doc Martin on Netflix.   She said she could hear it clearly ... word for word ... as she was getting out of her car.      My favorite way to watch movies is on my laptop with earbuds.  That's the only surefire way to catch every word!

Lovely post!!!  Thanks for sharing : )

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

F. your story reminds me of my Mom, my Mom in Law, my deceased Grandma in Law and recently my DH who I remind all of the time and he has yet to do, get a hearing test. A call to my in-laws has turned into a yelling session on the phone. I typically leave the house with Daisy so they can "shout it out" I tell DH if his hearing gets to the shouting years I shall fall silent. I have on occasion mouthed things to get my point across.

Mom, who totally misses 1/2 of everything because of her hearing is vain about her looks....she clearly doesn't get that sitting around with a dumbfounded look on her face does not become her.  Our DD noticed at the last family function that her Grandma sat quietly and weirdly through most of the day pretending to hear the conversations smiling and nodding and we all knew full well that she couldn't hear most of what was being said. Her younger sister has hearing aids and has for at least 5 years. Mom is 74 and Aunt Lorrayne is 64.

My Mom and I mail a journal back and forth, she loves receiving mail. We text (though that is soon to be discarded as her comprehension is sometimes questionable in text) and we do email often but we cannot connect via phone, she cannot hear it ring and hours later she notices she missed a call, usually way past a time she feels comfortable dialing me up.

Hey if anyone has any suggestions to help move her in the hearing aid direction feel free to pass them on.

As far a movie going I love love love going to the movies, especially on a rainy afternoon when there is nothing else to do. It is usually a my turn, your turn thing with DH. I really don't like his choices, I am a chick flick girl at heart, if I wait long enough he forgets who picked the last movie (me) and I choose again. If all else fails I go with DD.

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Lisa, I look forward to suggestions about convincing someone they need hearing aids!  We visit my Grandma twice a day and could watch the tv from the front porch with the door closed.  I end up going home with a hoarse voice from talking loud and repeating myself.  In the end though, I'm just glad I still have her around to be able to visit with every day and since she was recently diagnosed with cancer I'm more willing to ignore her hearing issue...now DH's hearing issues are another story altogether.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

OH NO! Why do I find this Hilarious?  Because it is ALL TRUE!  

One good thing about DK, we can read what each other's thoughts.  But I think too fast and it flows into my typing.  Sorry.  So I am sure my thoughts look really funny to many of you.

Closed Caption,  Well, I can not watch my one channel ( NBC ) without it on any longer. Sad, because with reruns that episode has already been on 9 times this year and I still have trouble following the show.

Another thought, maybe it is good we are all old dog owners.  What bark?  I hear nothing

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I know what you're talking about with movies and the older crowds.  My business partner, a former teacher friend, and I frequently attend afternoon movies.  We go early for a variety of reasons: 1) it's cheaper, 2) it's less crowded, and 3) we generally stay awake better.  The makeup of the audience is generally the over 50's set and, as you said, much less rowdy than when you have a bunch of teenagers who are there for the social interaction and NOT to watch the movie.  When such groups are there and rowdy, the middle school teacher in me rises up and I can't resist shushing them, often in my signature sarcastic way.  Even though the older set is less rowdy, they have their own way of being distracting - there's always at least one old person who need all of the dialogue repeated loudly into his or her ear or feels the need to narrate the movie with tidbits from his or her own life experiences!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Deanna, Those old people that like to narrate the movie always somehow find out where I am sitting and sit next to me. It is a gift I have :)

[Jennifer and Jack]

So funny......Your babies are so beautiful...

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

I saw the movie too. I took my daughter (12) and it was a younger crowd than what you experienced. I'm only 43, and I also had trouble hearing some of the words. I know I do have some hearing loss, but it did seem that the characters were mumbling a bit. I read the book this summer, so at least I knew what was going on. As is always the case with book based movies, I thought the book was much better, but I did enjoy the movie too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks, you've made me feel better since you are a babe in the woods and couldn't hear some parts! I felt knowing the book helped me too.

[Adina P]

I must be old at heart because I would take a 4pm showing to a 9pm showing ANY day.  I love coming out of the theater and finding light outside =)