Today started much as any other day of the past 17 years of my life. I woke the kids up and went about preparing them for their day of school. I drove the kids to the bus stop. Living in the country does have its disadvantages when you live where the school bus doesn't dare to tread. Seeing the bus come around the curve, I quickly gave the kids their kiss and their daily list of things to do and not do. I returned home to try and make a dent in the pile of dirty clothes that seems to multiply while waiting for me.

Today was going to be different, maybe not for everyone but certainly for me. Almost 16 years to the date of the release of the sixth part of the Star Wars saga (Return of the Jedi), the first episode Phantom Menace would debut in theaters around the world. Ticket sales would be fast and furious and they would not be easy to get. I had heard stories from friends about how they had camped out overnight and even slept in the rain under a tractor trailer to get tickets to a Bruce Springsteen concert. I had thought this to be totally insane. Today it was my turn, my turn to join the insanity.

Ticket sales for the midnight debut would go on sale at 6:00 for the midnight showing. Knowing the mania that surrounded the movie, I left the house about 12:30. I planned to run a couple of errands before I took my place in line. I gathered a few necessities, gum and lifesavers to hold of starvation during my wait and a book to read to pass the time.

I arrived at the theater at 1:30. The lines had begun to form. The die-hard fans had already placed their lawn chairs and began their vigils. Mother Nature decided to play a little joke on everyone and sent upon us a nice thunderstorm. Umbrellas appeared from nowhere as everyone made an attempt to stay dry. I had wisely brought an umbrella as well but decided to sit this one out in the car and watched as they stood there taking the brunt of Mother Nature's humor, unwilling to lose their place in line.

Picking up the book I had brought along to read, which oddly enough was a Star Trek novel, I laughed to myself and wondered if all these Star Wars fanatics would run me off for reading the "competition". After reading a while trying to pass the 4 hours until the ticket sales started, I began to tire of my book. My attention once again turned to the lines forming. I had been glancing back and forth every time I had turned a page. Two theaters would show the movie tonight and only 500 tickets would be available. Thinking about intriguing it all was, I decided to put a few thoughts down on paper about the whole experience.

I looked around in the car and as usual not a pad of paper to be found. Determined to capture this on paper, I set out on my "trek" to find one. As luck would have it, the closest store was 3 blocks away since our downtown area had turned in a haven for doctors and lawyers when the stores had moved to the shopping centers. My short journey took less than 20 minutes. The lines had grown only slightly since I had been gone.

I look around at the people standing in line. I see mothers, fathers, teenagers, and grandparents. I am in awe of what has possessed such a diverse group of people to gather like this. Is it the escape from reality that the movie offers? Perhaps the bragging rights of being able to say "I saw it on the first night? Or simply wanting to be a part of it all. I take my place in line, my pockets full of the gum and lifesavers and my umbrella, pad, and pen tucked under my arm. I sat next to a young girl perhaps 15 years younger than I. We began to chat, mostly laughing about the weather and what perfect timing the thunderstorm had. A group of what appeared to be college boys joined in behind me. At this point, I began to feel my age. It was either the young kids around me or the fact that my legs were growing tired standing there. It was at this point I sat down on the sidewalk and started making the notes that eventually became this article. I am sure everyone was wondering why I was sitting there with a note pad and paper. There I sat, documenting the really first insane thing I had ever done. It is also a great way to pass time. I hoped to be able to translate what I had written when I got home to my computer.

Apparently Mother Nature did not get enough of a laugh the first time around. The thunder starts rolling in the sky and the lightning begins its occasional flash. Drops of water begin to fall on my notepad. Umbrellas once again appear. I hear people moan about getting more rain, having just dried off from the first one. I pull out my umbrella as well. I found it quite difficult to hold an umbrella and write too. It was then that I heard a young voice ask me if I needed a hand. I jokingly replied, "a third one would be nice about now." His offer had been sincere and he took the umbrella from my hand and held it for me. He began asking what I was doing. We spent the hour talking about my little project and his first year of college. I couldn't help but to think to myself about what a rare thing this was. Here we were two people with nothing in common but a love for a movie saga, talking like we had known each other for years.

The rain became more intense and it necessitated a move to a standing position. The rain continued for quite some time. We saw a news truck from the local radio station pull into the parking lot. It seemed that our vigil for tickets was making the local news. He joked about the headline for the next newscast, "Local Yokels Brave Thunderstorm to see Young Vader". I couldn't help but laugh. Despite the fact that my feet were soaking wet, I was having a good time. The lines had become even longer. We were given a reprieve and the rain stopped around 5:00. I thanked my young friend for his help and he returned to talk with his friends. I hadn't even asked his name but he will be remembered as the young boy that held my umbrella. I looked around and saw two people "dueling" with light sabers. Even that was a little over the top for me. The small conversations became a low roar. At 5:30 the excitement began to grow as someone called out each minute until the sales began. At 5:45 the lines begin to form more tightly as anticipation for tickets grew even higher. We saw the ticket booth workers assume their positions at 5:50. "We Want Star Wars" was chanted through the crowd. I, myself, was silent. I was busy writing all this down. At the stroke of 6:00, the first ticket was sold. Cheers spread through the crowd, even I join in this time. Soon my turn came at the booth, "Two Adults, Please" were the only words I uttered. I handed her my 12 dollars and made my way to my car. I sat in the car for a moment thinking about the evening. A smile came to my face.

I drove home to rest before the midnight showing. My husband had prepared dinner and taken care of the dishes. My dinner sat on a plate on the stove. I felt a twinge of guilt about not being home for my family. The feeling disappeared when they asked me how my afternoon was. My excitement must have really been showing as I quickly spilled out everything I have written here.

I secured a babysitter for the late night. We left at 10:00 to get in front of the line. Even though we had our tickets, we still wanted a good seat. My companion for the evening was to be my husband who didn't quite understand it all but wanted to experience it me with anyway or perhaps he just didn't want me out that late at night all alone. The doors opened at 11:45. He stopped to get our drinks and popcorn while I went to get us some good seats. We were indeed lucky and got very good seats. The lights lowered and the previews started. Shortly, the main movie promo appeared. I got chill bumps as I heard the familiar Star Wars theme begin and saw the famous gold letters start scrolling up the screen.

It was then I knew why I was there and why I had stood in the rain to secure two small pieces of paper that would allowed me to see a movie I had waited for years to see. It wasn't bragging rights to say I had seen it first. It was the experience itself. I realized I wasn't insane nor were the others that had waited along with me. It was simply "My Turn" to understand it all.