The First Martian
If I have ever talked about this, here, I cannot find the entry. If not, well, it's probably about time.
Saw a meme on FB the other day. About Futurama, it showed a variety of tear jerking scenes, with the tag line, "Says it's a comedy, then makes you cry." And, one of the tear jerking scenes is from "The First Martian", which does, in fact, make me cry, every time.
Not for the obvious reason, though.
So.
It was a couple days past Christmas, three weeks and some after my wife left me. I was at my parents house, as were Joe and Julie and Max. I told Max about the old irish tale about why Manx cats (like the one my parents had) have no tails. Dad insisted, yet again, that the Isle of Man (which is where Manx cats originate) is not off the coast of Ireland, but rather "a channel island". This is something we have disagreed about before. And, not trivially, this is in the time before Google, so evidence to support one position or another was not readily available.
In any case, I said "It is just barely possible for me to right about some things, sometimes."
To which Dad replied "Not to me."
So, yah. I was... heartbroken, already, and my dad decided to insult my intelligence. And be wrong about it besides.
So, I ran from the house in tears. Joe followed me, hugged me, and got me to sit in his car. And then he drove, and I cried, and talked, and cried, for the next several hours.
Eventually, we came back to parents house. He stayed, Dad apologized, Max gave me hug, I left.
Went home, alone. Turned on the TV, and saw "The First Martian." Which was all about brothers, and the love they share, and how they can surprise you.
It was 15 years ago. It still gets me. Every Time.