Happy Star Wars Day!

A long time ago (or so it seems), or to be more exact, 19 years ago, on May the Fourth in the year 2000, something spectacular happened.  I went on a blind date with a man who simply saw a picture of me and knew I had JEDIGRL on my car tag.  I walked away from that extended lunch knowing I had just met the man I was going to marry.  Like I say in this house, I was right, am always right, and never doubt me.

Although we were both Star Wars fans, it was not known at the time that May 4th was Star Wars day.  Social media is what made it a phenomenon, and rightfully so.  Additionally, I did not know how it Margaret Thatcher's election as the first female British Prime Minister was tied to this (now) favorite fan saying.  As found on the Star Wars website celebrating this day, the following is noted:

“Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was ‘May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,’ further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all.”

That's the beauty of research - you learn something new each time you dig deeper into the meaning of something interesting!

For all the complaining I do about social media and the toxicity of the platforms, it has its benefits too.  Without the internet and social networking, May the Fourth could just be the day before Cinco de Mayo.  Once something is lit afire online, it spreads quickly and furiously.  Thankfully, this is one of the positive viral outcomes.

Today is also THE DAY I have been looking forward to for years.  My graduation commencement ceremony was held today.  I have officially completed my Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Magna Cum Laude.  It took longer than it should have, but that is what happens when you have a family, and life thows you curve-balls.  In fact, I believe life threw me more than my fair share, but I persevered.

So today I get to celebrate the pop culture icon the Star Wars franchise was as I grew up, and what it has grown into now and into the future, while I celebrate meeting my husband for the first time, and my official graduation date.  It's kismet.

May the Fourth Be With You, Always!