His name is Jeff Tweiten, and he has an obsession. I understand the obsession. I have understood the power of the dark side of this force for as long as I can remember. It's an obsession rivaled only by my passion for a perpetually losing baseball team. It is a passion for Star Wars and it's a deep one.
I fully realize that, by admitting this, I run the risk of showing my true identity...a total closet geek with a side of general Sci-fi nerdosity. (I also fully realize that since no one reads this but me I don't much care.) It's not like it's a big secret anyway, come over to the house sometime...the Star Wars shrine I built at the bottom of the family room stairs pretty much gives it away. Figures, cars, books,models, even old drawings of Chewie and Han Solo from when I was...let's see, last Wednesday, adorn the small corner allotted to me by the wife. Once a majestic collection, it is now but a shell of itself, like so many Jedi masters glowing in the perifery. I love what is left, and shun any attempt at my "grown up" self to sell it off on ebay once and for all. With luck, it will accompany me to the retirement home years from now.
But enough about me, what do YOU think of me? I digress.
Back to Jeff for a moment. In the tightly drawn circle of fanatics like us it is not so hard to understand the desire, wish or even need to sit and wait, and wait...and.....wait. 5 months is a big bite to swallow for any fan, (especially this Chicago cowboy, folks, it aint happenin') But Jeff seems like he might be made of the stuff to pull this off, based solely on the video he posted on his blog. There's a nervousness about him that screams utter devotion. It's the kind of foot-shuffling, hand wringing, chain smoking obsession one might expect from any completely twisted fan faced with the challenge of being a part of something just on the larger than life side of whatever it is that grips them. Jeff will get publicity for this, maybe more than he expected, maybe less...and maybe in ways he never imagined or expected. And while the publicity and the idea that his name has been attached to, if ever so slightly, the Star Wars phenomenon is all well and good, there is a deeper payoff to all of this. The fleeting 15 minutes of fame we all are allotted mean so much more when they come as a result of chasing our passions. Way to go Jeff, stay warm...get used to raman noodles and creative urination and, as always, may the force be with you.
Yanno, to this day I can't hear those words and not want to reply..."and also with you..." Must be the Catholic in me :)
3 comments:
Sure. How's May 25th look? ;)
Obviously you have never been to a Chicago movie theater! :P
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