I've been busy this week. At work, I've had one of those projects that just won't end. It hasn't taken on a life of its own, but I just can't fint the information I need to finish the project. So, this project, which should have been done yesterday, is still hanging around my neck. As a result, I haven't blogged all week.

Not to mention, I seem to have run out of topics. I'm still working on my rankings of sagas and trilogies. That thing is a nightmare. I'm not sure I'm ever going to get it done. I've gone through a few lists and I'm never satisfied with it. That aside, I feel the need to blog about something. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to share a Star Wars moment from my past. After considering it some more, I decided on this one.

Back when I was in third grade (there I'm revealing my age), I spent a good portion of the school year anxiously awaiting the release of Return of the Jedi. In fact, nearly every kid I knew was looking forward to this. Star Wars toys were really popular amongst everyone at the time. Everyone was anxious to find out if Vader's proclamation regarding Luke's paternity was actually true. Rumors were swirling that Leia was in fact Luke's sister.

The anticipation was like nothing I had ever experienced. It was the first movie I can ever remember being cognizant of its release. At any rate, the release date of the movie was rapidly approaching. A Scholastic book order was passed out in my class. I've always been a big reader, so I almost always ordered books from these things. I remember flipping through the order form and noticing several "Revenge of the Jedi" titles.

It didn't take much arguing, pleading, and cajoling to get my parents to order the books for me. They were always supportive of my desire to read. I think I ordered all six items in the order form. I can't remember for sure. After the order was turned it, I anxiously awaited the arrival of the books. That seemed to take forever. In fact, I think we were notified of at least two delays.

Then the books finally showed up. My teacher would later admit that she consciously hid the box of books from the class until near the end of the day. When she finally passed out everyone's orders, she told us, under threat of revoking recess, that we had to pay attention in class and couldn't look at our books. That was just killing me. It was probably killing everyone else as well. Quite a few kids had the same stuff I did.

When I finally got a chance to look at the books, the first thing I noticed was the change in the title from "Revenge of the Jedi," to "Return of the Jedi." Quite honestly, at the age of what, 7 or 8, I didn't have a clue what revenge was or why it was significant. When I asked my teacher what it meant, I don't believe I understood the definition she gave me and the dictionary didn't help me figure it out either. It didn't really matter to me though.

I overcame my desire to plow through the books at the suggestion of my parents and some friends that I wait to see the movie first. However, after the movie came out, one delay after another kept me from seeing it. Eventually, I had to experience the story in some fashion so that I could discuss it with friends without having it spoiled for me. So, I decided to read one of the books. The one I chose was the official story book that was full of shots from the movies. It was kind of long though.

My parents had imposed a 9 p.m. bedtime for me and my brothers. I had recently been given my own room. I remember telling them I wanted to read this book, and my mother gave me permission to read while I waited for my father to come and tuck me after he read to my brothers and tucked them in.

So, I started reading. I was engrossed. I remember being really concerned once Luke was "captured" by Vader. I lost all track of time. Finally, my mother came into the room. She was surprised I was still awake. Turns out, it was almost 2 a.m. My father had fallen asleep in my brothers' room. My mother had gone to bed, but had woke up to get a glass of water and saw the light on in my room. It was the latest I had ever been up in my life to that point.

I had just got to the part where the Emporer started frying poor Luke with force lightning. My mother insisted that I go to bed, and I reluctantly agreed to do so. The entire next day, I could hardly sit still in class. I had to know how the story ended. My mother seemed to have read my mind, and when she picked me up from school, she brought along the book so I could continue reading in the car. I finished reading the book before dinner, but nobody in my family would let me tell them about it. They wanted to wait to see the movie.

In some ways, I'm glad it worked out that way. The agony of not knowing whether Luke was going to survive or not really built up the tension for me. I know I'll never forget the experience.

Thanks for reading and sorry for the length.