My oldest baby is getting ready to head off to college; orientation is next week, her move in date is less than 2 months away, she is moving so fast now I can hardly keep up. This child has been a pure joy (most of the time), even through the heartbreak of her first day of Kindergarten, middle school, high school, deciding to move in with her father. Through all of the tears, the happy ones and the sad ones, she has been accompanied by Ernie (move over Bert). In my mind’s eye she will be forever 5, Ernie in tow, huge smile and bright eyes and now she is on her way toward becoming an amazing woman. Thank goodness she is only going 10 minutes up the road…can you imagine what I’d be like if she were going farther? I certainly can’t. So with all of this in mind, we decide to go to the movies; how about a little nostalgia?
Okay, so I can’t resist talking about this movie. I will readily admit this movie is more than just another story to me. My oldest is Andy’s age; when the first one came out it was great and very relatable because it was our life. Now, it’s level of intimacy with my life has increased ten-fold. The movie, in and of it self was amazing…the storyline, the animation, the ‘reality’ of the situation…everything. But, I will tell you, if you are getting ready to pack your baby off and send her to college (even if it is only 10 minutes away) you best take a handful of kleenex with you! Actually, I think everyone in the movie theater was crying…I’m not naming names but the two 18 year olds and the 15 year old I took with me were ALL puddles. I was not alone! It is a great movie, I wanted to sit through it a second time right then and there. Although I already own Toy Story, I am not positive I ever acquired Toy Story 2; it’s on my next Target shopping list – and I will anxiously await the release of number 3, and I will surely sob once again.
Oh, and the precious Ernie (our version of Woody) will forever sit on a shelf either in her bedroom or mine, just to remind me that she isn’t quite as grown up as she thinks.
