Movies

I guess I could post this under any number of headings, Control or Provocateur or maybe just plain old mean stupid jerk. Maybe that’s what I should have titled this post. Mean Stupid Jerk. Anyway…..

Our son is a die hard Marvel fan. He lives and breathes Marvel Avengers. I remember taking him to see Iron Man, the birth of the Avengers series, in the theater. I don’t recall how son found out it was coming to theaters, but a life long Avenger addiction was born the evening we went to see Iron Man. Son proudly wears Avenger themed clothing daily, his bedroom is an Avenger haven. We watch the entire Avenger series of movies on repeat. I have seen them all more times than I can count. Son can’t wait to watch again and again and again. Son loves going to see movies in theater more than most anything else. He sits still watching intently until the end, then asks to watch it on dvd again once we get home. He is so disappointed when I have to tell him we will have to wait.

I have to admit though, I was hooked as well. I became an unabashed Avengers geek that night as well. I was most definitely hooked. Captain American was and is my favorite Avenger.

I have looked forward to the next installment movie with as much anticipation as son. We have had such a great time going to see all the movies together.

I can think of a bazillion worse addictions than looking forward to the next Avenger series movie.

Unless you are Ex. There just isn’t anything Ex hasn’t been hell bent on ruining.

Ex made it clear movie going isn’t for him. And he refused to go with all the kids and I, ever. Im so thankful for my kids who were/are willing to do so many things with son and I. Apparently for Ex laying on the couch working his way towards a drunken stupor was more important. But he just couldn’t leave it at that. He had to ridicule, belittle, make fun of.

We made it all the way through to Infinity War without Ex ever attending even one Avenger movie with the kids and I. Not one movie. I told Ex we wanted him to attend End Game with us when it finally hits the theater. He humphed and said we’ll see, which in Ex speak meant no way.

When ticket sales for End Game opened I bought tickets for everyone, including a ticket for Ex. One would think I had asked him to volunteer for an unnecessary root canal and the kids saw his distain. Why couldn’t he just suck it up just once and do a family outing?? He initially said no, he would stay home. He told me to give the ticket away. He told me he wasn’t supporting Hollywood with his presence. He told me my obsession was ridiculous. Son was so hopeful his dad would come too.

The kids wanted him to participate. It was the finale. The end. In the end Ex relented and attended. He sat as stiff as a corpse next to me. Angry. Emotionless.

Why did he have to work so hard to ruin absolutely everything? Even something as simple as a family outing to a movie?

Ex’s ugly toxic opposition to everything I ever wanted or needed began early in our marriage. He progressively stepped up that opposition over the years to make it seem I was somehow selfish and self absorbed. All while going behind my back spending all our money on secret things for himself.

Son and I see practically every movie that comes out to the theater now. Son loves it and I bask in the quiet, no longer having to listen to ridicule.