Almost 25 years ago, when I was 6 years old, my parents took me to see the original Toy Story at the Cinemark Cinema 10 in Monroe, LA. I was beyond excited. I loved every Disney movie and was quite eager to see this one. At that very moment, I could not be happier.
Yet, that would soon change. I barely got to watch the opening scene where Andy has his birthday party when the screen went blank, the lights went up, and a lady came in with some rather upsetting news.
“I’m sorry folks, but due to some technical issues, this showing of Toy Story is now canceled. I am so sorry for the inconvenience.”
I did not understand what she was saying at first. It was when my parents told me that we would have to go home now and come back to watch Toy Story another time that I lost it.
“I wanna watch Toy Story!!! I wanna watch it right now!!”
I’m sure the families that were there and everyone around us all were staring at us. While my parents tried to calm me down, I just kept on screaming.
Then, rather quickly, something wonderful happened.
The lights went down and the movie started back up again. My tears evaporated and my agitation ceased as I became introduced to Woody and all of Andy’s toys. My parents and I then watched the rest of Toy Story and loved it.
Nearly 25 years later, out of all the movies I have watched at home and gone to see at the theater, that is the ONLY instance where “technical difficulties” almost ruined my movie experience. Yet, I know I am not the only one with a story like this.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the disabled and special needs community especially hard. For months, many such “differently-abled” boys and girls, men and women, have gone without going to church, to the gym, to concerts, to the library, and to the movie theater. The things that help them, their limited likes, interests, and passions, have been taken from them for several months now.
If there is any group of people this has been a burden for, it is their families and loved ones. Moms and dads, brothers and sisters, have all had to explain to their disabled family members, the best way they can, as to why they can’t go to the movies, to church, to the places they love.
It does not help them when the governor and mayor of California and New York have shut down movie theaters once more. Industry insiders know their decision will affect whenever movie theaters nationwide reopen, along with many other factors.
Yet, many special needs children and adults won’t care about statistics and news updates. They will just be upset they can’t see the latest Marvel and Despicable Me movies. When they already have limited interests and things they can do, to be without such opportunities will feel overwhelming and cruel.
As some who is “differently-abled,” it has been just over four months since I have seen a movie in theaters. In a way, that is a significant miracle for me. Had the COVID-19 pandemic not occurred, I am not sure I would have ever been able to willing go months without going to a movie theater.
Yet, I am still here, alive and well, thanks to my family, friends, and loved ones, who have supported me, through these last few months, of mood changes, anxiety attacks, and breakdowns.
There have been many people honored during this pandemic: firefighters, doctors, nurses. Yet, I want to “raise a glass” to every parent and loved one of a special needs individual, who has helped them maintain a good quality of life, in spite of this dire and complicated pandemic.
Each and every one of you is a hero.
Until Next Time,
Jacob McGowen
The Adventures of A Warrior 