I Got to Watch My Favourite Film of All Time

I’ll be honest – even after a short sleep this afternoon, I didn’t feel great, so I decided to watch my favourite film of all time, The Rock, starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage. I watched it together with my live-in carer, who was seeing it for the first time and really enjoyed it.

For a couple of hours it was just pleasant, and that was enough.

This morning I wrote about not being able to judge time. That is true. These two hours, however, were simply two hours. No major philosophical breakthroughs – just an enjoyable film.

There was no stress. No dwelling on PSP. Well, apart from rather too many trips to the toilet. There was just a good action film, plenty of explosions, familiar dialogue and the comfort of watching something I have loved for years.

It is hardly an Oscar-winning masterpiece, but that is beside the point. It is simply fun.

Living with PSP means my world has become much smaller. I do not travel. I rarely leave home. Many of the things I once enjoyed are simply no longer practical. That makes simple pleasures feel far more valuable than they once did.

Unlike going to the cinema, I had my carer beside me and the bathroom was only a few steps away. That may not sound like much, but sometimes accessibility is what makes enjoyment possible.

My brother and my nephew are the film reviewers in the family, not me, so I will not pretend to recommend films. Perhaps it is Sean Connery. Perhaps it is the soundtrack. Whatever the reason, I never seem to tire of The Rock. Today it reminded me that even in difficult seasons of life, there are still moments that feel wonderfully ordinary.

For anyone wondering, my next two favourites are The Shawshank Redemption and The Equalizer. My order of favourites has always surprised people, but there is no accounting for taste.

I am going to play a game of chess shortly and, in a little while, we will head out with Buddy for a short walk. My wife, my carer and Buddy will be doing the walking. I will be doing the sitting, enjoying the sunshine from my wheelchair before coming home for a light supper with Gayle.

When you live with PSP, good days are rarely perfect. But parts of them can still be very good.

Today, I had one of those.

And in the middle of a very rough sea, that can feel like finding a small oasis.

This blog may seem almost inconsequential from a PSP perspective. I do not think it is. Living with a terminal illness is not only about symptoms, appointments and adaptations. It is also about recognising the ordinary moments that remind you life can still be enjoyable.

Sometimes, they are the moments worth remembering most.