January 1st is like a big giant Do-Over for every one of us. No matter how rosy or crappy the previous year was, New Year’s Day is our chance to spring out of bed and do it all over again—365 days of infinite possibilities. Granted our days aren’t all going to be filled with rainbows and unicorns, but hopefully we’ll have more good ones than bad. I have decided that my philosophy for the New Year will be heavily influenced by the release of the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens. Hopefully it will awaken a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year for yours truly.
The seventh installment of the Star Wars franchise or first release of the third trilogy opened on December 18th, 2015. Take this Wookie’s word for it, The Force Awakens will set every box office revenue record ever recorded in this world or one in a galaxy far far away. Even though we’ve never met, George Lucas and J.J. Abrams are kind of like my spiritual mentors in this journey so the first thing on my “to do” list is to see the movie.
January – Since there’s no way any normal person (a non Star Wars geek) is going to be able to get a ticket to the movie in December 2015, the month of January 2016 will be devoted to viewing what promises to be a cinematic masterpiece. Watching this mega block buster should provide me with some clarity and direction for the coming year. Once I see the film six or seven…teen times, the rest of the year will be on Millennium Falcon cruise control.
February – On February 7th, the Super Bowl will be played at Levy’s Stadium in Santa Clara, but unless the Jedi Knights play the Galactic Empire, the game could easily be forgotten. Rumor has it that for Valentine’s Day, Cupid plans to wear an Imperial Strom Trooper costume this year and instead of a bow and arrow, expect him to be wielding a light saber. Love is in the “outer space” air.
March–I totally plan on channeling my inner Yoda and trusting “the force” to guide my NCAA basketball picks this year. Last year, I was mathematically out of contention after the first day. Sadly, I was all-in with the Cal State Northridge Matadors, but that was because I didn’t have Yoda weighing in on my picks. Since monitoring my March Madness bracket is pretty much an all-consuming endeavor lasting the entire month, I hope my job doesn’t expect a lot out of me.
April–Last year’s Star Wars Celebration 2015took place at the Anaheim Convention Center and I missed it while touring college campuses with our oldest daughter over Spring Break. So, this year’s annual Spring Break travel adventure is to attend this year’s convention via a family road trip. Once there, I plan to network with my fellow Star Wars brothers and sisters in a supportive and embracing social environment. The wife and kids can go to Disneyland.
May–The start of Baseball season might be the only thing that could shake me from my “All things Star Wars” monthly agenda.
June–The start of summer and a good time to get cracking on my summer reading list. There are about a million Star Wars books available to read. Just the Jedi Apprentice series alone has 20 volumes. The Rising Force,The Dark Rival,The Hidden Past,The Mark of the Crown, The Defenders of the Dead, The Uncertain Path, The Captive Temple, The Day of Reckoning, The Fight for Truth, The Shattered Peace, The Deadly Hunter, The Evil Experiment, The Dangerous Rescue, The Ties That Bind, The Death of Hope, The Call to Vengeance, The Only Witness, The Threat Within, Special Edition #1: Deceptions, and Special Edition #2: The Followers. Once I’m done with this series, I plan to start in on The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
July– Like every soon-to-be 54 year old, I plan to have a Star Wars themed birthday party with all my friends where we’ll all dress up like their favorite SW character. I of course will be Hans Solo. I may even invite my arch nemesis and least favorite co-worker to the party just to play the role of the evil Kylo Ren. I have seven months to teach my dog to walk on his hind legs in hopes of playing Chewbacca.
August – Summer vacation is just about over. No more star gazing at outdoor sleep outs. No more lightsaber battles with flash lights crammed inside an empty holiday wrapping paper role. No more spending days watching Star Wars marathons in a blacked down play room imagining we’re battling Darth Vader for space supremacy. I didn’t mean me doing this type of stuff. Why would you think it’s me? It’s just an example of what some kids might be doing before school starts up again.
September—Back to school. Even young Jedi Knights had to go to Rebel Alliance school before they could unleash the Rebel Fleet (kind of like their football team) on the Dark Side at the second Death Star stadium. I just hope that the current line-up of Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron can ball like the old guys. Don’t be so quick to rush to judgement. You don’t know me!
October –Halloween, hello? You get three guesses what I’ll be dressed up as and C-3PO would be wrong. If anyone guessed Jabba the Hutt you just hurt my feelings. I actually lost three pounds in 2015. I’m already building my BB-8 robot friend to accompany me to all the cool parties we’ll be invited to this year.
November – Our wedding anniversary. Refer to birthday party ideas in July.
December– Santa Skywalker and Princess Leah Claus will be spreading Christmas cheer throughout the universe during the month and that’s the approach I’ll take. My mission will be to share holiday greetings and Ewok cheer throughout the universe or at least the Tri Valley.
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