Star Wars: The Mad Dash Awakens

The new Star Wars Movie came out today. Unfortunately, I’m a catastrophic disaster when it comes to making plans to do things within a group. So I figured I would probably miss this one entirely, or end up waiting until it comes out on Netflix… my current obsession.

I don’t normally like going to the movies alone. The first time I went to the movies by myself was in the 80’s.  My soul mate wanted to see one of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” movies, and I was about 8 months pregnant. He didn’t want to leave me at home, but he also didn’t want me to get freaked out and have the baby in the theater.  So, when we got inside the multiplex, he went into one theater with our mutual friend, and I was sent to another to see the movie “After Hours”. The only two things I remember about seeing that movie was, one; I think David Byrne from the band Talking Heads was in the movie doing something in a truck, and two; I was almost 8 months pregnant, in a theater without my mate, and the guy sitting next to me was shamelessly flirting with me. I swore that I would never go to the movies by myself again. But that happened decades ago, and I needed to let that go. Going to the theater alone is not the end of the world. Especially since I am always slow at making solid, fruitful, group plans. It causes me to lose out on a lot. That’s something I’m going to have to work on in the New Year.

The Mad Dash

I can’t believe I just saw the new Star Wars 7th installation, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on my daughter’s birthday. But she’s passport ready–off traveling the world. I was at home dusting bookshelves on my day off. Suddenly I got a push message from my survey app saying; Go see Star Wars for $10.00.

Prince’s song, “The Word” was playing in the background. He said “Get up! Come on let’s do something.” I jumped up…  My hair!!!! I pulled up my Fandango app, snatched out my twists, and just let life happen.

I can’t believe I bought tickets for a 3:20 pm showing at 2:25 pm.  I got dressed, fluffed and spritzed my lion mane, and made a mad dash from 125th Street to 14th street by train. I managed to make it to the theater on time, just as the credits were starting. I know it’s crazy to do something that daring, on opening night of a movie as popular as this, but talk about an adrenaline rush. This was just one of those things that needed to be done, without pause for thought.

I would have loved to be able to pause and rewind the credits. I’m so technology spoiled. Lol!!!  My eyes almost fell out when I saw the name Lupita Nyong’o roll up on the credits. What!!!????  Fantastic! I thought it was so amazing when I realized what character she played. And my boy Kevin Smith rolled up on the credits too. I don’t remember seeing him at all, but I saw his name in the credits, so he had to be there somewhere… unless I mistook him for the guy who played the cop on “Heroes”.   So many performers appeared in this film. I just loved Chewbacca, almost as much as I loved Baby Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy”. I deeply appreciated seeing the original cast take part in the film as well. It was good seeing Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.

Despite the fact that I was alone, I actually had a good time. It was exciting and at a few points, it was also funny. Unlike the time I went to see the last Superman movie alone. I was not a fan of that movie. And it sucked that I didn’t have anyone with me to distract me from realizing I was still in the theater. This was a much more rewarding experience for me. I’m glad I went. I’m really beginning to enjoy my newfound spontaneity.