May 17 - 19, 2005. Perhaps the last Nerd Holiday ever. (Don't worry; I use the term 'nerd' and 'geek' and 'freak' with affection.) An extended Wookie Hooky. Perhaps the best way to spend a few days actually doing nothing. Yes, I waited in line at my local theater for tickets and showtime for Episode 3.

This is not a task to be undertaken lightly, as the spring weather in Montana has a habit of unpredictability. But it's the last Star Wars, and if I was ever going to show my devotion to perhaps the greatest story I've ever known, this was the time. (I did this for Ep. 2, but it didn't really have the same meaning for me as this one.)

Months ago, by buddy Chad and I made the deal that wherever we were when Episode 3 came out, one of us would go to the other's town to see the last Star Wars ever. Turned out that life as I know it allowed me to travel from Bozeman to Great Falls for the premiere. We had planned to do the overnight parking lot camping deal, so as to get tickets for ourselves and especially Chad's cousin, who is in a wheelchair.

While on the road, I was informed that the local theater had effectively quashed any plans for overnighting, and would not allow anyone to line up until 8 a.m. on Wednesday the 18th. Talk about pre-planning a riot of Star Wars fans!

So the plan was in jeopardy, and the future of our ultimate Nerd Holiday was in turmoil.

(more on this 'breaking story appears, well... next time I get a chance to write!)