"Oh my, my this here Anakin guy May be Vader someday later, now he's just a small fry He left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye Sayin', "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi" Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"
Star Wars was more of a boy thing when Larry and I were kids and the first 3 movies came out so it was a bit of a surprise for Larry that I was so in to it as well. But I was. I mean it's me, not Larry, that has their ticket stub to see Return of the Jedi in 1983. I saw it in Denver, Colorado with my mother, my Aunt Ramona and her son, my cousin, Adonis. So yes, I was just as geeked out when they re-released the originals in the theater and then the new ones came out. What made all of that all the more special was our boys were close to the same age we were when the originals came out, so a full-circle moment for sure.
Then there was this!!!! It had everything our family could have asked for and it did not disappoint. For me this and Video Games Live, that we also were able to take the boys too, was so fun. I would always spend so much more of my time just watching Larry and the boys enjoying the show. For me personally as a parent that was were the real fun was, watching my kids enjoying themselves.
I thoroughly love that we were able to do these kinds of things as a family. I know a lot of them the kids don't remember because they were young. If nothing else, I hope the boys are left with a feeling of a happy childhood overall, not perfect just happy. I know we tried to do the best we could, but I also know there were times we failed miserably.
P.S. I was not triggered by the mention of Star Wars Droids but I'm sure if I were to watch the movie again I would be. I honestly don't know if we still have it but if I ever come across it I'll make sure to let Larry know.
Another song, another life event. It really hit me with this one that the era of these paper tickets is over. I'm reflecting on all the life event songs we've had so far that simply came back to life because we had these physical memories.
I have to thank Shannon for keeping these organized over the years and way earlier in this process when we were trying to put this project together, that organization made it so much easier to chart our course.
If I didn't have these ticket stubs, would I remember that on December 2nd, 2009 I was at Nationwide Arena with the boys watching Star Wars In Concert? Nope. Honestly I might not even remember we went at all. I believe in a previous post I mentioned I love movie soundtracks just as much as anything else, so of course I would have taken the boys to this - probably because I wanted to go!
Just as much as music has been a part of our lives, so has Star Wars. In an effort to trigger Shannon, I bring you this gem: Star Wars: Droids.
It probably ranks as one of the worst Star Wars cartoons ever, but the boys loved it and would want to watch it constantly. Thank god I was at work. I'm not sure if we still have the VHS copy or not.
So what better way to celebrate this momentous memory than to hand it over to our good friend, Weird Al.
When the boys were younger, they would watch the original trilogy with me but Episode I - The Phantom Menace was probably their true indoctrination into the Star Wars universe. So besides the overall genius of Weird Al, this song hit upon all the things they fell in love with at the ages of three and four (almost four and five) and provides a great summary - kind of like a cliff notes version, if you will - as told from Obi-Wan Kenobi's perspective.
And the fact that it is a parody of Don McLean's American Pie is just pure magic.
Once again, when I sometimes wonder if I was a good dad and know that there was so much more I could do, I just need these little reminders that I was fortunate enough to have the access to these events, the money and took the time to ensure they were exposed to these little things. A full orchestra playing nothing but Star Wars music while scenes were played on a big screen. Pretty magical night, if you ask me...
P.S. Don McLean's American Pie held the record for almost 50 years for being the longest song to reach number one (January 15th, 1972) before Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" broke the record in 2021.
P.P.S. True Story - I formerly knew all the words to American Pie, but this morning on the way to work I listened to it - but the only lyrics I could recall were from The Saga Begins, LOL. Well played Weird Al, well played...
Ghost of a Chance 