The madness started in spring 2001. Fistfuls of popcorn flew like confetti as my shoe rolled down a dark aisle - all because I'd just watched "The Mummy Returns," Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's first movie after announcing what would be a seven-year hiatus from the wrestling ring.
It happened again in 2008, when he shared the screen with Steve Carell, another one of my idols, in the Hollywood adaptation of the 1960's TV show, "Get Smart." This time, however, the lights weren't even dim before my shoe went rolling down the center aisle.
Then, when TJ, my brother, took me to see another one of Steve's movies a few years ago, my English professor at the time, whose name coincidentally was also Steve, was sitting in front of us.
I didn't know he was there until the movie was over and the lights came back on - or I would've had TJ warn him in advance.
OK, maybe I get a little excited when I go to the movies, but thankfully, I haven't simultaneously given anybody a black eye in the process.
My family and movie-going friend, Justin, have grown so accustomed to my popcorn-throwing, shoe-slipping antics that they can tell when my favorite scenes are coming. It's probably why they let me stuff my face during the 15-minute block of previews.
Sometimes I think they would rather watch me instead of the movie, which is fine with me. I'm so engrossed in what's going on in the story that I don't realize how ridiculous I look. It's dark in the theater, so I try to take full advantage of it. It's similar to one of those "I'm dancing in my underwear and don't care who sees it!" moments we all have.
I think we need more of that in the world - the kind of craziness and spontaneity that lets the kid in you come out to play. Not only that, but there needs to be a willingness to show others what makes you happy, whether it's a crowd of one or 1,000.
That kind of freedom will never die or be taken away. The interesting thing about it is the fact it's the same freedom that inspires people to take chances in life - for better or worse.
I'm not going to stop kicking off my shoe at the movies. It's not me. Besides, Justin and my family would think something was wrong if they left without having to look for it.
It doesn't matter if you're Plain Jane or Lady GaGa. What matters is being comfortable in your own skin and standing behind everything you do. Everybody else will follow - and if they don't, they're missing the party.
Erin Kelly, 26, was born with cerebral palsy in Seoul, Korea and now lives in Altoona. She is a 2009 graduate of Penn State Altoona. E-mail her at ekelly1006@hotmail.com.
