Movies Have Ruined Me

There are many ways that movies have ruined me, but I will just share one way tonight.  

As I was driving down a canyon this evening I came to a gate that I had to use a combination lock to open.  I had been warned of this obstacle that I would encounter on my way home and was ready with the code to allow my progress to continue.  What I had not been warned of is how scary it would be to unlock this gate.

I pull up to the gate, left my car running with the music blaring, and got out to let myself through.  Running up to the gate (because of the chill in the air) I fiddled with the dials to hone into the correct numbers.  The lock was cold so the numbers weren't easy to manipulate and as I looked around me I realized how scary my surroundings were.  The headlights on my car only gave out so much light to the surrounding area.  I knew that out there around me there was darkness, animals and who knew what else.  I had left my car door open when I ran to the gate and my imagination just kept running through all the scenarios of some stranger climbing into my wide open car and "getting" me when I tried to drive away.

Why would I think this way?  Movies, that's why.  How many movies have I seen where out in the darkness an unsuspecting victim is attacked by a crazy person in the middle of the night?  Evidently, far too many.

The re locking of the gate was just as thrilling or terrifying as the initial unlocking.  As soon I had the gate secured I ran back to my car, slammed the door, locked it and rushed off home.  Shivers might still possibly be running up and down my spine.