Z is for ZIP - A - DEE - DOO - DAH

I couldn't resist playing the 

2014 A to Z Challenge 

out on a happy note.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by 
and made all of April "A Wonderful Day."

Here's one of the biggest Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah days in my life 

The day I met Luke Skywalker - Mark Hamill!

"It will be a day long remembered."

He really is THE nicest guy in the galaxy - 
far far away or any other.

CONGRATULATIONS 

to everyone in the A to Z! 
It's been a blast.

See you in the blogosphere.

And - cue the music...

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Music by Allie Wrubel
Lyrics by Ray Gilbert
Performed by James Baskett
© 1945 Walt Disney Music Company

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

S is for Star Wars

Twenty-Six Days of Creative Inspiration

photo credit

A long time ago in a galaxy far far way, a boyfriend dragged me to what I thought was a stupid war movie.

After two hours in line and two hours in the theatre, I was helping Luke Skywalker blow up the Death Star with the secret controls in the armrest of the theatre seat.

I am a Star Wars fanatic, and proud of it. There was something magical about Luke leaving home to learn the ways of the force as I was leaving home to learn the ways of college. 

photo credit

After thirty-five years my love for the Star Wars universe has never waned, even through Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

One of the thrills of my life is when I met Mark Hamill last year. He is a gentleman Jedi to be sure.

Star Wars filled me with a sense of wonder that long ago summer of 1977, and the saga still resonates with me today. I've always loved sci-fi, but Star Wars made me want to write sci-fi.

For the record, The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite of all the movies.

Do you feel the force?

Click on the Blogging From A to Z Challenge logo in the sidebar to access the links to all the superheroes participating in this blog hop.

View From the 5th Grade Trenches - February 2011 - Meeting Mark Hamill

A long time ago in a galaxy not so very far away, my boyfriend, dragged me to what I thought was going to be a stupid war movie.  By night's end I was bombing the Death Star with Luke Skywalker, using the imaginary firing button on the armrest of my seat.  I was smitten.  The boyfriend didn’t like STAR WARS, A NEW HOPE.  I dumped him.

Since that day I have dreamed of meeting Luke Skywalker, and last Thursday my wish came true.  The amazing Mark Hamill came to our school and spent time with our 5^th and 6^th grade students.  He answered what seemed like a thousand questions with generosity, humor, and graciousness.  The man is a genuine Jedi through and through.

Mark was a wonderful inspiration to the kids.  He told them to follow their hearts and they can achieve anything in this world.  Here here, Mark Hamill.

Here are a few wide-eyed revelations from the 5^th grade trenches about our awesome guest:

He does so many amazing different voices.  Robyn

He loves video games and is the voice on some of our favorites.  Jerry and Fernanda

He came from a big family that moved around a lot.  Lexi and Cade

He’s a regular dad with kids.  Gage

He wasn’t popular or an athlete in school. Rylee and Kayla

He was student council president. Hunter and Alex

He’s a writer and created the Black Pearl comic.  Tyler and Kyle

He is a director too.  Rylee

He says he’s a comic book geek.  Kait

He likes the weird/cool Star Wars characters like Yoda and Darth Vader. Rian

He was the last human filming on THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK with puppets and snakes.  Ava

I had a tear in my eye when Mark shared that if he were to be anything besides an actor, he’d be a teacher.  I remain smitten.

The force was definitely with us.  Thank you, Mark Hamill for being our shining star.