Tommy Intimidates Darth Vader On Stage

In the midst of all the excitement of both boys getting the chance to be on stage, the workers chose a number of those to confront Vader. Not everyone gets the chance. Some children are too timid, and others get the chance to do something else. Jack and Tommy had their turn. I enjoyed every minute of it.

And like Jack did in one of our early trips, Tommy fought valiantly, like he did when playing at home with Jack and Pop Pop. He swung his short, green light saber frantically, forcing the Vader character to take a step back and allowing the audience to erupt into laughter and cheers. Like Jack once did, Tommy stole the show, and we enjoyed it so much, we didn't get a movie clip of it. I was hoping I could persuade both boys to do it again, but they are older now, and I think they each had a little stage fright. It didn't happen, and looking at it now, I recognize the time at Disneyland was about my three grandchildren having fun and not about Pop Pop smiling proudly in the audience as his grandsons performed bravely. But that part--the proud Pop Pop thing--was fun too. I can't imagine what it will be like in the future when each child finds something they choose to express their talents. Tommy loves to draw. Jack loves music and movies. Anna is still a bit too young to set her path, because she loves to draw too, but I am sure she will find something just like each of the boys did in her own time, according to her own terms. The first step was getting the robe and Jedi weapon, and the Disney people did it very well, completing each step so that the boys listened and paid attention. There was no time for young minds to wander. And everything had a focus that ultimately led to something that young minds could enjoy very much.

The reactions of parents and grandparents were fun too. Some shouted encouragement and others took massive numbers of pictures and movie clips with cameras and phones.

It all happened, one step at a time: each sequence building on the next to make even more fun for the boys. After selection, the boys stood briefly in their Jedi robes listening to initial instructions that were important for the show, and then they received their light sabers.

As soon as the Jedi Master instructed the padawans to activate their weapons, each boy and girl did as they were told. It was almost eerie how every one of them stood listening intently. As a school teacher, things never really happened that way, but I guess toting a light saber makes a difference. The NRA probably expresses strong feelings about that issue and endorses the use of a Jedi weapon by teachers in schools. As long as it is a plastic version, I could have lived with that mandate, although I would have taken it home to my grandchildren rather than leaving it at school.

Grandma even got all artsy about this picture, getting a different angle that really looks good. Although initially I was disappointed not to have a video clip of Tommy's battle on stage, the clips sometimes do not work on the blog, and the pictures were all fantastic.

Even more impressive for me is the fact that trees in Anaheim still have green leaves, and people in the afternoon not only don't wear coats, but they also disregard sweatshirts. The weather is just like summer, just another reason why a twelve-hour drive is not out of the question any time of the week. Luckily, Jack is in school, or I would drive there often.

Before Ann retired, I teased her once by saying that if she came home from work and found the house empty, Jack and I were on our way to warmth and sunshine. Grandma didn't think it was funny, and Kristin didn't either. I was teasing, or at least I think I was.

The only disadvantage about a trip going as nicely as this last one is how badly I want to return to those summer breezes.

The light saber fight that Tommy had that afternoon "brought down the house." It is why I put the picture at the top of the blog. People clapped, they cheered, they laughed. Tommy took it very seriously, and just like we practiced in our TV room, Tommy fought valiantly in his green clogs. And because it was one of the memories of that trip I won't ever forget, I added two more pictures of the scene. At the end, the Disney worker actually stepped in to stop the action. The Jedi Master on stage said to Tommy, "Your saber moves are hypnotizing my young padawan." More laughter erupted from the crowd. Tommy's crocs helped as a padawan walk the path of the Jedi, because they are comfortable, and besides Yoda would have liked this shade of green. For my grandchildren, their shoes have brought me fun memories. Jack had his canvas retro Converse high-tops, and although I had a pair for Tommy too, he didn't like them as much as Jack did. Tommy liked these. As for Anna, when she gets to the stage, she will be wearing a Princess Leia outfit with matching slippers.