Ask Pappy #4: Falling asleep during your favorite movie ain’t a crime, but refusing a rewatch just might be.

Reader Letter: My date fell asleep during my favorite movie. Out cold, halfway through! I laughed it off, but part of me took it personal. Should I take that as a bad sign, or just accept that maybe my “comfort classics” aren’t for everyone? — Leo D.

Well, kid, that depends. Did they snore loud enough to drown out the dialogue, or just drift off quiet like the credits rollin’?

Now, I’ve been around long enough to know that sharing your favorite movie with someone is sacred business. It ain’t just about the film — it’s about you. You’re saying, “This picture means something to me. This scene, this song, this line — it’s who I am.”

So when your date nods off halfway through, it can feel like they just took a nap on your heart. I get it. But before you roll the end credits on ‘em, take a breath. Because here’s the truth: sometimes, a person fallin’ asleep ain’t about boredom — it’s about comfort.

Maybe they’ve had a long week. Maybe the dim light and soft sound did what every therapist and cup of chamomile tea couldn’t. Maybe — and don’t laugh — maybe you just made them feel safe enough to snooze.

And sure, maybe they just didn’t like the movie. Happens. My first date with my late wife, she fell asleep ten minutes into Casablanca. I thought, “That’s it. I’m done.” Next week she showed up with popcorn, said, “Let’s try again — this time I’ll stay awake for you and Bogart.” We were married forty years.

So don’t judge too quick. Love’s like a long movie — pacing matters, and sometimes the best parts come after the slow scenes.

But if every time you turn on a movie they start sawing logs before the first act ends? Well, that’s not romance, that’s hibernation. You just gotta know what kind of film you’re watchin’ — the kind that takes time to build, or the kind that’s already lost its spark.

Stay kind, stay curious, and don’t spill the butter on your way out.— Pappy Hull, The Popcorn Philosopher