The Force was with me

Just like Luke Skywalker hurtling through the canals of the Death Star's surface in his X-wing fighter, so, too, did I make a valiant — if not hurried — trip down the long corridor of Route 9 early this afternoon, intent on watching the first matinee of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" in Fishkill.

Having already planned to be one of the first in the area to see this latest chapter of the saga, I wished a loved one (think of her as my Princess Leia) a fond farewell at around 12:05 p.m. in Poughkeepsie, just 45 minutes and a dozen miles separating me and the moviehouse.

First stop, though: the dollar store to pick up a box of Sour Patch Kids and a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper. (Seriously, have ya seen the prices at the theater's concession stands lately?!) Having taken my first swig of the my fav 23-flavor concoction, I encountered both construction and lunch-hour traffic.

As the minutes — and my chances of getting to the theater on time — ticked away, one thought entered my mind: I have a bad feeling about this.

Undaunted and despite the pair of slow-moving vehicles with Connecticut license plates that impeded my movement almost the entire time down (they were my metaphorical Tie-fighters), I arrived at my destination at 12:47, with three minutes til the movie — or at least the five previews — was scheduled to begin.

But just like Luke in his aforementioned mission, the job was not done yet! (Cue the dramatic music...)

Only a pair of mothers, each with 2 or 3 children, stood between me and the front of the line for tickets. The first paid with a credit card, surprising holding up the line. (Turns out, those TV commercials aren't really accurate!) The second not only paid with a debit card that wasn't signed on the back, necessitating photo ID that wasted precious seconds, but she proceeded to fill out the form for a Regal Cinemas loyal customer rewards card just as the big hand approached the 10 on the clock behind the counter!

Alas, when I — clad in my glasses and blue "Empire Strikes Back" movie poster T-shirt that screamed "Star Wars" geek by himself! to everyone who saw me — reached the front of the line, I plunked down my $20 bill and asked for "one for 'Star Wars,' please" ... like she had to ask, looking at my dweeby appearance.

I received my change — not even checking to see if it was correct — and darted to find an open seat, meeting some Empirical resistance (someone was saving an entire row!) before settling for an vacant chair along the aisle.

Triumphant, I felt safe and victorious as I watched the first of those five previews for movies I will never go see.

Check back later for some thoughts on the actual movie...