When I was little, my parents and grandparents were big on letting me watch movies that were outside the realm of that Big Bird movie and Milo & Otis. The most vivid memory I have of watching movies as a kid was watching E.T. in the sun room. Before my brother was born, I’d spend the afternoon at my grandparents’ while my mom was out. The sun room was Uncle Jimmy’s old bedroom on the second floor of the house, and it had these broad windows that looked out onto the neighborhood below. The TV was up against the wall, so when it was light out, the sun filtering in made it tough to see the old TV screen and you’d have to squint extra hard to see the picture.

Anyways, my grandmother would put on E.T., go downstairs to make tea or something for a minute and leave little me on the couch. By the time she’d walk up the stairs, she’d see me huddled outside the sun room with just my head peeking in. It didn’t matter if she sat with me during the movie — without fail, every single time E.T. appeared on screen I’d bolt out of the room and go to the doorway and stay there, watching the movie still but keeping my distance from the TV.

So yeah. I was a big ol’ fraidy cat, and as I sit here on my own couch watching E.T.. on my own TV next to my own big windows, it makes me miss my Gramma terribly.

Don’t think I’ll run and watch from the doorway this time though, even if it’s right before bed.