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Last week I won tickets to see the premiere of the movie Dear John. Last night was the big event. As I drove from Kansas City to Independence (16 miles one way) I kept thinking “this better be a good movie.” Sixteen miles seemed like a long way, especially when there is a movie theatre about a half mile from my apartment. But it was free and it was a premiere!

I had been advised to arrive early because more tickets had been given out than there were seats in the theatre. Apparently this is done to ensure a full or nearly full theatre for the premiere. So my friend, Kelly, and I arrived at 6:00 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. showing. There was a line to get in and people had moved benches over to sit on as we waited. We passed the time chit chatting about life and boyfriends. Just before they let us in the ushers checked our purses and pockets to be sure that we didn’t have a camera or recording device. Before we could step over the threshold into the theatre we were “wanded” for one last check. I waited for the request to remove my shoes and belt. Oh wait, no, that’s at the airport! This was just a movie!

We found the perfect seats and finally the movie started. About 15 minutes in I pretended I was 21 again and fell in love with Channing Tatum, the male lead. Thirty minutes into it I was holding back tears and about an hour in I could not hold the tears back any longer. It was a good, although not unique, love story. My tears were not only for John but for anyone who has ever been in his situation. Kelly called it sappy. She was right but maybe I was just in the mood for a sappy love story.

John ( Channing Tatum) and Savannah ( Amanda Seyfried) meet and fall in love during a two week romance while he is on leave from his post in the Army Special Forces and she is on a break from college. They separate to go back to their lives and write each other faithfully, each waiting impatiently for his year in the military to end so that they can be together. His tour is unexpectedly lengthened due to 9/11 and that creates difficulty in the relationship. The audience knows that something is going to happen because their relationship is just too sweet and perfect. But you soooooo want it to work out!

That may be the shortest movie review ever but for all of the twists and turns you’ll have to see Dear John for yourself. I liked the movie. It was sappy and the abrupt ending seemed forced but it was still worth the 32 mile round trip. And I can’t wait to see what Channing Tatum does next!

I meant to post this on St. Patrick’s Day but for a variety of reasons wasn’t able to. But better late than never!

Saturday, March 14th I went to my first “hoolie.” Ever been to one? Know what it is? Apparently, it means “party” among the Irish. The hoolie was at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City and featured a band called The Elders. I hadn’t heard their music before but I was impressed! Their music is lively, energetic and entertaining but it is also touchingly filled with pride, emotion and humor associated with their Irish heritage. The lead singer has been in this country since 1987 and proudly announced that he will become a U.S. citizen this year.

As I watched the crowd, I could tell that many of the fans were intimately acquainted with this band’s music. When a familiar song started, cheers went up and people started dancing and singing along, some with vigorous enthusiasm! Much the way I feel when I see a favorite band in concert.

The common denominator among this group, though, is an Irish heritage. I was there because my friend, Rob, has Irish roots that are celebrated by his family. My family doesn’t celebrate any particular heritage and we consider ourselves to be pretty much a Heinz 57 mix of ancestry. It seems to me that families that recognize and celebrate a specific ancestral heritage tend to be more close-knit than those who don’t. What do you think?

What does your family celebrate? What heritage-related traditions do you keep alive?

To all my Irish friends (and those who are only Irish for one day each year) Happy (belated) St. Patrick’s Day!!