A Weekend Far Far Away

“I don’t think things ought to be done because you are able to do them.
I think they should be done because you ought to do them.”

The Once and Future King

American historian, journalist, and author, Theodore H. White, was born on this day in 1915 (d. 1986)

Saturday was Star Wars Day also known as May the Fourth.

As in, May the Fourth be with You.

It was also the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, or, as I posted on social media:

May the Horse be with you.

You may be neither a Star Wars nor a Derby fan, but you’d have to live under a rock on Tatooine to have been unaware of those Saturday events.

My Facebook feed was flooded with Star Wars and Derby posts.

For reasons that don’t merit explanation here, I was at home all weekend. Saturday morning I started with Episode I and, by last evening, I’d managed to make my way through all nine of the main movies. No, I did not get to the other movies or the multiple series availabe on the Disney app.

Still, nine movies is no small task. And no, I didn’t just sit and watch them. I’m always multi-tasking. On a side

Available at The Write Side Shop

note, that’s why I’m behind on watching all the Best Picture movies. Several in recent years come with subtititles. I can’t multi-task if I’m having to read the dialogue.

I digress.

One post the other day asked the question “which is the best Star Wars movie?” I know that there are disagreements amongst fans, based on the story line and the cinematic value.

For me, the best Star Wars movie will always be Episode IV: A New Hope because it changed the way we went to, and saw movies. For a generation, it was revolutionary.

Sure it was also the beginning of a huge marketing franchise.

In the summer of 1977, my best friend and I stood in line to see the film and we were amazed. Star Wars became the first movie I saw in theaters multiple times. It didn’t hurt that, when I returned to college, my roommate was (and continues to be) a huge Star Wars fan.

We waited in antcipation for the next two films. We shared the shock value when Vader told Luke “I am your father.”

Fast forward a few years and Star Wars became a family tradition for my family. Somewhere along the line, my Mother had purchased for us the three-volume VCS set. Yes, VHS. learn some history.

We introduced our oldest to Star Wars when he was about seven. Friday nights quickly became pizza and movie night. That usually involved pepperoni pizza and one of the Star Wars movies. More often than not The Empire Strikes Back.

A few years later, his younger brother caught on. For several Halloweens in a row, he was Darth Vader. And he once chased an actress playing Mrs. Claus down the hallway so that she would make sure Santa new he wanted a Darth Vader voice changer.

All these years later, both remain fans of Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter and, bless it, The Lord of the Rings.

It all started with the unlikeliest of movies forty-seven years ago.

May the Force be with you.

IN OTHER NEWS

Bets on Kentucky Derby 150, won by Mystik Dan at 18-1 odds, set records at Churchill Downs
Courier-Journal
Wagering on the 150th Run for the Roses, won by Mystik Dan at 18-1 odds in 2:03.34, eclipsed the $200-million mark for the first time in the race’s history.

Mark Hamill Joins Death Star Press Conference To Say What A Good Job He Thinks The Emperor Is Doing
The Babylon Bee
The surprise appearance, reportedly put together in an effort to shore up Emperor Palpatine’s dwindling support throughout the galaxy, featured Hamill giving the Empire his official seal of approval.

Titanic and Boys From The Blackstuff actor Bernard Hill dies aged 79
UK Telegraph
Hill, who died on Sunday morning, was also known for playing King Théoden in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

“I go to my fathers, and in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed.”

Rest in Peace, Théoden King.

Pro-Palestianian protesters are backed by a surprising source: Biden’s biggest donors
Politico
The donors include some of the biggest names in Democratic circles: Gates, Soros, Rockefeller and Pritzker, according to a POLITICO analysis.

No, Politico, no surprise here.

American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, Orson Welles, was born on this day in 1915 (d. 1985)

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn”


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Go West Old Men: A Travel Memoir. Part 16

Zion National Park

We’re march­ing to Zion,
Beautiful, beau­ti­ful Zion;
We’re march­ing up­ward to Zion,
The beau­ti­ful city of God.

Isaac Watts

I think the last time I sang that song I was actually marching to Zion. Well, we were riding a bus on our way into Jerusalem.

This is Part 16 of the story, follow these links to see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15

As majestic as it was at Tuweep, we could only stay two nights. The realization was setting in. We were beginning our journey home.

We packed up in Tuweep and off-roaded ourselves back to the main road. We had already adjusted our schedule somewhat, details don’t matter.

All along the way as I posted our journey on Instagram and Facebook friends would say “you have to go here” or “don’t miss there.” We had a schedule and we could only make so many deviations. But crossing one challenging hike off the list we decided to head just slightly northwest and visit Zion National Park.

Getting out of Tuweep and back to the main roads in that direction required crossing over Mt. Trumbull
Mount Trumbull lies north of Grand Canyon National Park. There’s plenty of history here and we stopped to view just a bit of it at Mt. Trumbull Schoolhouse. Since the time it was built in the early 1900s the schoolhouse also served as a church, dancehall, and town meeting venue. Destroyed by fire in 2000. A coalition of the public, descendants, and he Bureau of Land Management rebuilt the building and it serves as a mini museum. Inside are historic artifacts and photographs.

We drove on from the schoolhouse in search of the main roads where we turned toward Zion National Park with towering red cliffs and winding canyons. We only had time to see part of the canyon, so we took the bus toward the starting point for the hike to the Narrows.

We walked along the river to the point where hiking Narrows becomes a little more adventurous.

We didn’t have the equipment to take the hike through the stream to the deepest part of the Narrows. Waterproof shoes and clothes are required because the depth of the stream can reach your shoulders.

Scott did actually venture into the stream. I of course

I walked two miles, uphill in both directions, to get you this picture.

sacrificed that experience to take the picture.

Leaving Zion, we had to make some more decisions. Time wasn’t going to allow the visit to Natural Bridges National Park, so we headed toward Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.

Along the way, I tried to find us a campsite along Lake Powell without luck. Instead we opted a night of “luxury” at a hotel near the dam.

Glen Canyon Dam is the second highest concrete arch dam in the U.S., second only to Hoover Dam. We were too late to experience the visitor’s center, but we got a good view of the dam and the beginnings of Lake Powell.

I for one, did not mind the night in a hotel. A hot shower, a real bed.

Lake Powell

And the best part? Dinner at Denny’s.

It was exquisite. Or at least a warm meal that didn’t come out

Glen Canyon Dam

of a freeze dried bag.

We didn’t talk about. We didn’t have too.

This was the beginning of the journey home.

 

 

 

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