Rolling Down Memory Lane

Recently I was able to go back to my parents’ home and spend a little time just enjoying family. My Dad is an auto body mechanic and would to carry me to school an hour away each day so I learned all about the makes and models of cars from him, as well as an appreciation for a more laid back morning radio show. After all, where else could you hear the morning birthdays of both young and old as well as the finer points of red eye gravy and squirrel?  Ugh! I took the DJ at his word for the breakfast advice then and now. Some things are just meant for those with a stronger constitution than mine.  Anyway, back to the cars. Cars were a way for my Dad and me to bond in my younger years. I am not a mechanic but my love of automobiles will always be tied to my relationship with my Dad.  During this trip we were able to go to a car show, something I have not done in years. Other than slightly cooler than preferred weather, we had an enjoyable time looking at all that was on display. One such model was a Ford Pinto wagon. Minus the woodgrain panels it was exactly like the one that I spent many an afternoon ride home from school in. Memories came flooding in of hot summer days with the windows down and those leatherish seats that stuck to my legs. My mom changing a flat tire on the way home from school.  One family trip to the beach in particular because my Dad decided he wanted to try limburger cheese. It was a stinky ride back to the hotel for my brother and me in the back seat. With so many cars to see, my Mom and Dad both reminisced about vehicles from their younger years, sharing stories from a time that I was not a part of. My daughter had the opportunity to go with me and was able to hear all these stories as well. Looking back on the day later I realized that for her, all the stories were from a time she was not part of. I just hope that one day my children will see a classic vehicle that had seen it’s prime in their younger years and share their stories with their children about a time that is now and those children are not yet a part of.

May the Force Be With You

When I was growing up we weren’t a movie going family. In fact, if I tried to I could probably count all the movies we saw in the cinema without taking off my shoes. We saw lots of movies as rentals but they were usually kid centric or something my parents specifically wanted to see. That being said, I was not a geek growing up, at least not in the current connotation of the word. So needless to say many of the movies my generation grew up loving I had no reference for.

Enter my husband. He was in the theater to see the original Star Wars at a drive in. I’ve never even been to a drive in! (When he told me this story originally I was more jealous of the drive in than the movie.)  His love for all things comic book, sci-fi and time travel have contaminated me. I am now a full-fledged, card carrying geek. OK maybe not a card carrying one, but if that was an option I would sign up! We have seen every rendition of Star Wars George Lucas so lovingly added 12 extra seconds of footage to in the theater, I have even been to 2 midnight premieres. No dressing up though… yet.

In case you have been living under a rock or not made any passably marketable purchases lately you may not be aware that a new Star Wars movie is coming out Thursday night. Yes we will be there, excitement barely contained as we watch the movie continuing the story and made by a true fan from our generation that has already proven (with Star Trek) he can do so with love and attention to detail only a close friend to the story can.

I give you all this to set up for my reason for my love of Star Wars. Obviously, it has nothing to do with nostalgia. Other than playing with my friends on the playground I never knew the true story. Of course everyone knows who Luke’s father is. That was as important as who shot JR. But having grown to love this series as an adult I watched it with adult eyes. While everyone loves the action of lightsabers and the wonder of the parlor tricks the force can provide, I always loved Yoda (and the Ewoks, but apparently that is not a popular opinion for some reason.) He is a Muppet that sounds like Fozzie and Grover. How can you not love him? But that is not why I love Yoda.

How do you patiently explain something you cannot see and is such a foreign concept to someone who needs to learn it? Something so vital to their being and survival? Such a strong part of who they are? Yoda is the guide to the force for Luke. He is his intermediary to a higher power, literally and figuratively. His explanation of the force is eloquent and beautiful, and it’s applicable to all of us. Swap out words and how well does it fit a personal spiritual journey.

This scene is so simple, and even to a certain degree overlooked in the overall story, but without this basic building block it would not work. I challenge you to watch this clip and think about it. Not as a piece of classic movie cinema loved by millions around the world, but as a pathway to understanding. Understanding of our role in nature, to fellow man and even spiritually. Our life force is powerful… If we believe.