Hello there!
Right about now I feel like Ben Kenobi when he came upon R2D2 (and Luke Skywalker, of course, but it was R2 to whom Ben was speaking) in one of the canyons of the Jundland Wastes. It was the Force … or Destiny … Happenchance … or just good ol’ plain Luck. However you choose to look at it, separate beings were thrown together, and their lives never would be the same again.
That could be said about most – maybe all of us – in the Galaxy of Star Wars Fandom. The Force … Destiny … Happenchance … good ol’ plain Luck brought us together. Our association began due to a common interest in a little space fantasy that burst on the scene back in 1977. Sometimes, when I’m just sitting back, relaxing, just letting my mind wander, I start thinking about Star Wars and what it has brought into my life. I am utterly amazed!
Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself! I should introduce myself, and tell you a little bit of how I got to this place and time. I will get back to what I was saying. It all ties together. Trust me.
I’m Melinda, and I have been a Star Wars fan since the very beginning. I can’t remember how many times I saw the epic film that first summer of its release, but at 19 – and a girl – I will tell you that even in a city the size of Chicago (where I grew up), I was in the minority of theater-goers whose imaginations were captured by George Lucas’ romp through space. That didn’t bother me, though. I’ve always walked through life to the beat of my own drum.
Jump ahead more than 20 years (I know I’m leaving out a lot of pertinent information. I’m sure some of it will creep into future blogs I write for “Coffee With Kenobi”.), and the starwars.com blogs popped onto the scene. You’ve heard Dan mention them from time to time during the podcasts. It was the starwars.com blogs that brought a few bloggers together (as in meeting in person). My first “in real life” connection was Bethany H. (that is a sweet story I’d like to share with you another day). When the out-of-this-world “Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit stopped at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry (2007), some of us thought it would be great to go (we’ll take any excuse to get together!). At first, it was going to be Bethany, CWK’s Lisa D, our good friend Erika (see, I found like-minded female friends. It just took a few years!), my family and me. In the vein of the more the merrier, our group expanded. Among our entourage was none other than CWK’s Dan Z! (Mind you, only one individual in our burgeoning group actually lived in Chicago. Some friends – some who we would meet face-to-face for the first time – joined us from across the country!) Dan and I have been friends ever since. Fast forward to the spring of 2013, when Dan and Cory added their eloquent musings about Star Wars to the airwaves with their podcast, “Coffee With Kenobi”. I have been a huge fan since the first episode!
As I’m apt to do – and since Dan and Cory put the invitation out there – I’ve been sharing my thoughts about each of their podcasts with them. A writer by trade, this never is difficult for me to do (haha). As the lazy days of summer waned, I received an email from Cory and Dan asking me if I’d like to be CWK’s regular, featured blogger. You could have knocked me over with the feather on Logray’s headdress. (Mind you, not the headdress itself. That might carry some oomph!) Do something that combines two of my passions – writing and Star Wars? I didn’t have to be asked twice!
So, here I am today – posting my first official blog for CWK. In the ensuing months, I plan to share some of my ponderings about that space saga near and dear to our hearts. Some will be goofy. Some philosophical. Some will contain personal anecdotes. I hope you’ll enjoy them, and I invite you to contact me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you.
And this brings me full circle. As I reminisce about getting to know these amazing people (I know I didn’t go into a great deal of detail. I can get long-winded, and I want my introduction to be brief … for me.), I am in awe of how one little space adventure brought us together, how deep friendships have resulted. I bet you have tales of your own to tell! Here, I will have the honor and privilege of visiting with you two times each month (on the 1st and 15th). I’m excited at the prospect of getting together with friends – new and old! Bring a cup of coffee (or tea … or hot cocoa … or apple cider … or whatever you like). I know I will.
Was it the Force … Destiny … Happenchance … just good ol’ plain Luck that I ambled to our local movie theater to watch the film that was causing such a stir during the summer of 1977 … that led me to checking out the blogs at starwars.com … that led me to striking up friendships … that led me here? To paraphrase Leia, each of us has our own path to follow. Sometimes those paths intersect. Like our paths today. Like Luke (who happens to be my favorite character) ready to shove off on a new adventure, I’m ready for anything! You should see the huge smile spread across my face! I hope this will be the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship. (Care to venture a guess as to which movie I’m referencing with that paraphrased line? I hope I’ve given the film aficionados among you a clear hint.)
I don’t know if it was the Force … or Destiny … Happenchance … or good ol’ plain Luck that brought us together. I’m just happy – and honored – to be here. MTFBWY
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