May the 4th Be With You...Or why I love Star Wars.

I am a child of the 80s and being such I was raised on a steady diet of Star Wars, Dr Who and re-runs of M*A*S*H and various other things in between. On one hand this could explain a lot about me or anyone born around the same time if you want to look at it that way.

What this means is that I grew up with Star Wars - if I was born in 1977 it would make things even better but, unfortunately for me but not so much my parents as that was the year that they tied the proverbial knot. But that's another story for another time. This post is all about why I love Star Wars.

As a child I was in and out of hospitals on a semi frequent basis so this meant a lot of time lying in bed with nothing to do aside from watching Han Solo fly through asteroid fields, slash open a tauntaun and pretty much own the screen. It also meant that one of my earlier crushes happened to focus around a sandy haired kid who dreamed about escaping and ended up kissing his sister...that part didn't really make sense to me until I was older. I am always in awe of that scene where Luke and Leia swing from one platform to the other in their escape attempt. Then there is the scene in the garbage disposal which creeped me out when I was younger.

My heroine was Princess Leia, who could be feminine and kick arse even while wearing the least amount of clothing possible...but she still killed Jabba while wearing that bikini that still resonates among young geeks even now. I grew my hair long because of her and would often attempt the bagel hair look but I failed miserably since I had no ability to style my own hair without it looking like I'd been attacked by Tuskan Raiders...actually I still have that problem.

But Star Wars was more than just entertainment for me. It was something to keep my mind off the operations or the illnesses that frequented me as a child. It showed me that anyone can be a hero even ewoks, those fluffy little bastards. I was young enough that they appealed to me, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Regardless of the ewoks there was so much going on that would keep me entertained for days. Even now I will often drop quotes in where I can.

It may have presented good and evil as black and white to begin with but there are so many layers to the original trilogy, and yes, I am only talking about the original trilogy because, although I enjoy the new trilogy the old one is better by a million times. There are nuances that I can see better as a pretend adult* and then there are all the allusions to films, mythology and literature.

What makes it even better is it is still referenced today...May 4th aside, all you need to do is look at shows such as The Big Bang Theory (which I happen to be watching right now), Family Guy and so many more.

Even after all these years I can still watch Star Wars (any of the original trilogy) and feel that flash of excitement as those words crawl across the screen. My heart still swells with the music and my entire being becomes excited with the desperation of the characters...I love Star Wars and I always will.

I leave you with a quote from our favourite little philosopher, Master Yoda:

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship."

Oh and a question of the day - is there a movie that changed your life? Let me know.

*I don't feel like an adult so pretend adult it is.

Oh glorious quotations...one to five

I've been reading quite a bit over the last few days, when I haven't been looking after my niece or dealing with flooding or other crazy things that seem to fall into my lap. I have also been emailing some friends and family when I get the chance. *

While in the process of this emailing thing I have been looking at a lot of quotes that make me think, laugh or feel good...I'm sure you all have a saying or quote that makes you smile slightly.

Well, today I thought I would share some of my favourite quotes - well, five to be exact.

Starting from the very beginning ** -

One:

"Do as little harm to others as you can; make any sacrifice for your true friends; be responsible for yourself and ask nothing of others; and grab all the fun you can. Don't give much thought to yesterday, don't worry about tomorrow, live in the moment, and trust that your existence has meaning even when the world seems to be all blind chance and chaos. When life lands a hammer blow in your face, do your best to respond to the hammer as if it had been a cream pie."
— Dean Koontz 

I love this quote - it is one that I truly try to live by but since the worry monster seems intent on controlling my life at times I sometimes forget this...come on, you all have your own worry monsters, I am not alone in this!

 

Two:

"Jesus!" Luke exclaimed.
"Actually, it's just me," said Simon. "Although I've been told the resemblance is startling."

Cassandra Clare

I am very much part of Team Simon. There is something about witty, somewhat geeky boys that brings a smile to my face. Also, Cassandra Clare has a very witty style of writing and I have often heard her books referred to as 'endlessly quotable' and I have to agree. 

 

Three:

"…because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can’t-control-yourself love it. Hank, when people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is ‘you like stuff.’ Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, ‘you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness’."
John Green

Those faithful readers will know about my love ::*::coughobsessioncough::*:: with John Green's books and this isn't a quote from one of his books but from the man himself and I love it. Honestly, how can you not!

Four:
Mrs Weasley: "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!"
George: "What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?" 

J K Rowling

Aside from Luna Lovegood, Fred and George are my favourite characters from the world of Harry Potter. And, as with all the quotes so far, I couldn't really narrow down my favourite one. 

And, finally, Five:

"If you have never spent whole afternoons with burning ears and rumpled hair, forgetting the world around you over a book, forgetting cold and hunger--

If you have never read secretly under the bedclothes with a flashlight, because your father or mother or some other well-meaning person has switched off the lamp on the plausible ground that it was time to sleep because you had to get up so early--

If you have never wept bitter tears because a wonderful story has come to an end and you must take your leave of the characters with whom you have shared so many adventures, whom you have loved and admired, for whom you have hoped and feared, and without whose company life seems empty and meaningless--

If such things have not been part of your own experience, you probably won't understand what Bastian did next."

Michael Ende 

One of my best birthday presents ever was one of the cheapest. I don't know how my mum ever found it but she did: a copy of The Neverending Story that she got for me and it cost roughly $5 NZD.  And this quote is so very true!

   

Did you see what I did there - not only did I give you some great quotes I also gave you some great authors. Oh my skills and evilry (is there such a word?***) know no bounds...

Peace and pancakes y'all!

*When I remember... :o)
**A very good place to start!
***According to spellcheck - no...but it is now! It's a cross between evil and villainy...