Geek Holiday

Friday was a major holiday for Geeks everywhere. It was the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. I remember hearing about the movie before it came out at science fiction conventions that I frequented. We knew it was going to be special it was just trying to get the mundanes to listen to us. When it absolutely exploded onto the scene we were there cheering it on.

A true Geek can tell you most of the dialog and every continuity error in the whole six series of films. Mark Hamil's "Carrie" slip up anyone? ;-)

One thing that Star Wars did do for us Geeks is make it a little more acceptable to be a Geek. It is hard growing up different and for those of us for whom school was something that we actually enjoyed for the learning experience being different was not always easy. We had our conventions though and even if everyone else thought we were weird we had fun.

Star Wars was a lot of people's introduction to the world of mythology. I don't think Joseph Campbell would have been as popular if Star Wars hadn't come along. It is no coincidence that his Power of Myth series was filmed at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch. George was a big fan of Campbell.

My absolute favorite time seeing the original Star Wars was in  San Francisco the second time around. My brother, sister-in-law and I went on a Friday night after work. The early showing was sold out so we got tickets for the later showing and along with the much of the audience for the later showing went to the bar next door. I don't know what was in their special Star Wars drink but we were probably one of the happiest audiences that film has ever seen. You could tell those members of the audience who had been next door because we were the ones cheering our own special person on. Me I was with the Han Solo brigade.

So congratulations to George Lucas, one of our own Geeks. And thanks for 30 wonderful years. What a ride.

The picture is called Dogfight and with a little luck the dragon can count on the Millennium Falcon showing up to help out. I'm sure the dragon could make it worth Han's while.