Like many of you, Star Wars was – and I guess could be argued- IS, a big part of my life. I had all the toys as a kid (which my mother gave to the neighbour’s children, one soul destroying day… not that I’m bitter) ; I watched all the movies, over and over again and I even had Star Wars place mats, duvet covers and PJs; I was obsessed! To the point that looking back in my mind’s eye, it seems that every major fond memory I have revolved around Star Wars in some way shape or form. From my first trip to see the trilogy in the cinema with my dad, to the day I got the Ewolk village (with free Wompa) for Christmas. Memories as vivid now as they were then and memories that shaped, guided and lead me to be who I am today.
It is therefore sad for me to admit that this Childhood wonderment that made me the strapping, Irish Viking I am, died a little as the years passed and I “grew up”. Yes I still geeked it up, watched the new films, bought toys and played every single Star Wars game there was known to man, but I never could get back that feeling of pure excitement and pleasure I held so dear as a child. The feeling of awe and stupefaction, the feeling that maybe, if I concentrate hard enough, I might actually be able to move something with my mind! All gone…well, until two weeks ago.
A friend of mine and singer in my most awesome Melodic Metal band (shameless plug…Skin the Pig) told me about an event happening in Manchester called “The Lost in Space weekend”, where in there was going to be a few guys dressed in Star Wars costumes and did I want to go for a look? Obviously I thought it was my geek duty to attend but I wasn’t expecting much to be honest. At most I thought I might get one or two pictures to put on the site and then I could go off to watch Prometheus. (sounded like a plan)
I turned up on my own, singer (whose idea it was) being comatose on his sofa after a heavy night drinking. I park up my car and wonder up the stairs to the area the event meant to be held… nothing. Hmmm, I look around to see if maybe there is a gazebo or something where they all might be.. nope. Maybe I was early? I notice a sign in one of the retail outlet’s windows and start walking towards it,stopping dead a few meters from the door as 3 garbed figures emerged…
I couldn’t believe my eyes, or how I was feeling, the excitement was palpable. I just stood and stared like child who has just been introduced to Santa Clause for the first time; mouth a gawp, eyes wide and speech, nervous gibbering. What had been hidden in my subconscious, repressed even, just exploded out. The moment these 3 figures walked through those doors, was the day “Maff,” my 10 year old, younger self came back, with every wonderfully excitable emotion he carried with him.
Apparently not! After talking to the organisers from the two troops involved ( The 99th Garrison (Paul) and The Mint Imperials (Stacey) ) I was informed that the next day R2D2 and Vader were going to be here. I was a ball of childish, unobtainable joy, I thanked everyone, numerous times, left and spent all night editing the pictures I took, hoping that night would come, sleep would take me and then I could see Vader! The next day came as a Christmas morn, I got up, put on my cloths, ran downstairs, grabbed my camera and my long suffering girlfriend (that’s right I have one)I who came on a promise of a movie and some dinner and then ran out of the house!
This time I strode straight in the front door of the event and was greeted with the imperial version of Santa Clause; It was Vader! Old Darth and his imperial elves…There’s A Snow trooper, Darth Revan, a Dark trooper, a Tie fighter pilot and R2D2! All together with the rest of the guys from the day before. I edged over to the 6ft 8 Vader and tapped him on the shoulder… “umm.. Mr..Vader..sir, umm.. can, you like.. umm, if it’s not too much trouble.. you know… like force choke me?” The Great man of black armoured sheen, looks down on me (im 6 ft 3!) and says “ok” (SCHWEEEEEEET!)
There I sat, for a good hour and a half, watching people come in and interacting with the Imperials. I talked to them, I talked to the guys in costume, I watched as kids and grown up kids alike got photos taken; I watched the faces of hardened scallies turn to wide eyed children as they saw their childhood came back, just like mine, and in that instance we were all equal in our Geekdom, the unity provided by normal people who enjoy dressing up as storm troopers… How would have thought it would be that easy? Then I had an epiphany…
This was cool wasn’t it? I mean the fact that so many people, of all walks of life, were enjoying this, can only be a good thing right?. The fact that I was side by side with a troop of girls on a hen do and a scallie who had just got out of a souped up Vauxhall, seemed to make a lot of sense. an unattainable utopia, but one I was a part of for a day. There was no mockery, no judgment, no sneers and jeers. Just happy people, beeping their horns as they passed by, or taking photographs with their favorite characters. I honestly “felt the love” as cheesy as it sounds and was talking to people who generally wouldnt have time for a nerd like me.
I guess, in a roundabout way, that is what this blog, mind splurg, whatever you want to call it, is about. I thought I was an out of the closet Geek, who embraced who he was and where he came from, but it was seeing the 99th Garrison and the Mint Imperials at the weekend that showed me that I still had a little bit left inside. It showed me that EVERYONE, no matter who they are, has a little bit of that child, that… “Geek” and all it takes is truly awesome people, with a passion for their hobby and the ballz to dress up in a costume for the entertainment of others.
GEEK PRIDE SALUTES YOU!
Check out the Photos I took from the “Lost in Space Weekend” and in St. Helens with the Mint imperials on our Facebook or in our gallery
Matt Geary
15/06/2012