Yesterday I walked into the living room just as the soldier who was watching TV, burst out in a loud guffaw. “What is it?” I asked. “What are you watching?”

“Our life,” he said. “It’s our life on here.”

I never watch TV but I walked around to glance at the screen. 50 First Dates was on.

“Oh yeah,” I said. I am sorry about that.”

The soldier, the AMF, Scott and Stevie all equated me with me the Lucy character and I hate to tell you because it seems unbelievable. That movie is fake but there is actually a person in the world who is like that and I am her. I smiled and went on about my business and a few minutes later he yelled to me, “If you were watching this you’d be crying.”

That’s code that means he’d like me to watch with him but I do so hate TV. I hate TV but I love the soldier so I headed into the living room and by the time I got to the couch and sat down next to him I was crying. “I don’t have to watch,” I said. “I know what’s in this movie,” I said. “How could I not?” I thought.

He looked at me and my tears and smiled as if there’d be no way he could ever explain the ways and reasons why he loves me.

I glanced at the screen and the couple was playing. He was teasing her and Lucy was all spaced out. However she was singular and I just plain felt uncomfortable seeing her.

“I can’t help it,” I said. “I can’t help it.”

“I know that, P.”

“Do you think I have frontal lobe damage?” I asked because this is what was said on screen a moment before.

“No.”

“No?” I asked wondering if he meant it.

“No.”

“Okay, good.”

On that I went back to my business because like I said, I don’t like TV. I grew up without one and I have just never acquired a taste.
Fifty First Dates