As often happens with the slightly benign or “left of center” stories, it always takes me a circuitous route to find a) the story and b) get it done on time. Living in Australia, I seem to celebrate things a day late, even though a fair majority of you would suggest I’m celebrating them right on schedule.

Thus it is with the Universal Day of the Jedi.

First pushed by fans to begin on May 25, 2007, to mark the 30^th anniversary of the original Star Wars film being released, Day of the Jedi is a massive celebration intended to mark everything from the canonical saga to the expanded universe to fandom itself.

So in light of said holiday, and despite it realistically already having passed me by (locally speaking), I decided to share a story of my Star Wars obsession, and its highpoint. Thanks to Latino Review for the idea and Greg Davies of DayoftheJedi.com for the inspiration to pen my feelings; for a given value of “pen.”

I wouldn’t be able to tell you the first time I saw the original (and best) Star Warstrilogy. I’m only 24, and though I may be ancient to the majority of people I mingle with at church, my mum wasn’t even finished with high school when the first movie came out. But I must have watched the first movies so early on that they have just blended into that big happy memory that is ages 1 – 5.

I am glad enough, however, not to have my first Star Wars moment defined by George Lucas’ “digitally remastered” editions of the films.

I was, of course, immediately attached to the films, and displaying from an early age a talent for the “obsessive geek” tendency, I wanted more. But for a family with little money, the expanded universe was well beyond our limits. It is only now that I am able to indulge my love of reading with my love of Star Wars.

Unlike many others though — and I hope that this doesn’t ruin any of my geek cred, though I have enough to spare really — I did actually like Episode II and III, and anything of Episode I that didn’t involve pod-racing, Anakin, or Padme. In fact, I must applaud Phantom Menace for its introduction of two of my favorite characters: Obi Wan and Qui Gon Jin.

But it is Episode II that allowed me to indulge my obsessive tendencies to the fullest, with a midnight screening of the premiere.

I went with my friend, Nick, and we made the pilgrimage to the Rivoli Theatre in Camberwell, a beautiful old art-deco styled theatre, with three tiers’ worth of seating in its big “Number 1″ theatre and a massive screen worthy of the movie.

There were wannabe Jedi’s roaming the street as we waited in line, a stormtrooper or two, and if I remember correctly — though not surprisingly — a relatively realistic Darth Vader. (Why there would be a Darth Vader for Attack of the Clones is beyond me however.)

We were finally let inside after a half-hour wait, and our seating was wonderful; close to the back, in the center, and lots of leg room. The nervous chatter before a big movie was evidenced throughout the theatre, and fake lightsabers rattled in mock battle as we waited for the movie to begin.

The lights faded, but we were dealt a bevy of ads and trailers before the main feature was to begin. Thankfully, some geek with a lot of money had invested in a lightsaber of such quality that, when lit in the dark, actually looked like a real lightsaber extending from hilt to point.

However, the lightsaber was soon forgotten when the lights darkened that little bit extra, the curtains opened that little bit wider, and the intro scenes were shown: the Fox Studios fanfare, the green LucasFilm logo (which itself got applause), and then that ever recognizable John Williams trumpet intro to the latest incarnation of Star Wars.

For all it mattered, we could have gone back 30 years in time, when my Dad would later recount booing and hissing at the screen. This doesn’t happen in ordinary movies these days; we’ve gotten cautious and arrogant enough to think that such outrageous behavior isn’t necessary. But that night, all that went out the window as we cheered along with the film.

The highlight, of course, was Yoda’s entrance towards the end of the movie, and the proceeding duel, between his mighty green self and Count Dooku, played to supreme perfection by the magnificent Christopher Lee. We cheered and gasped and awed, and we laughed out loud when Yoda used the Force to access his little green lightsaber.

We clapped raucously when it all finished, and we couldn’t stop talking about the movie, so much so that we were twice reminded to “Be Quiet” when we were finally taken home to get those precious few hours of sleep before school.

Yeah, did I mention that not only was it a school night, but I had an important assessment task that same day for English Literature. So much so that it scored me a spot on the radio breakfast show that morning as I rang in on the way to school, to announce that I had already seen the movie, and that I had placed by education on the line to do so.

All these years later, and sadly I can get away with using the term “all these years later,” my love of Star Wars has only increased. It isn’t long until George Lucas betrays his vows never to make another movie and gives us Star Wars: Clone Wars, the movie that will spark the ongoing animated TV series. And in addition, I have been introduced — finally — into the Expanded Universe (I’m into book 5 of the X-Wing series of books!).

So to all of you out there, be you old, young, or age-indeterminable like my beloved R2-D2, have a happy Day of the Jedi, and of course, May the Force be With You!