My boyhood obsession with Star Wars began in South Portland, Maine during the summer of 1977.  Barely two years old, I felt the disturbance in the force when the summer blockbuster to end all summer blockbusters was released.  After strategically applying intense psychological mindgames on my parents for months on end, my Dad finally broke down and took me to a screening of Star Wars. 

It was the opening moments of the movie, culminating with the dramatic entrance of Darth Vader, surrounded by storm troopers, appearing through the cloud of smoke, that changed the way I looked at the world.  I now had someone to model my life after.  With my wiffle ball bats finding new life doubling as light sabers, I had my Mom and Aunt fashion a Vader costume for Halloween.  Complete with a plastic store bought mask and flowing cape, my two year old self was ready to take control of the universe.

Instead of waiting for Halloween, I wore my dark outfit day in and day out, walking circles around the neighborhood inhaling and exhaling as only Darth Vader could.  Always in character, fellow children would yell 'Hi Mike' and try to play with me, but as a dark jedi, I could only swing my light saber or stand tall and strong, exhaling and trying to make exhortations about the Dark Side.

I've scoured the archives trying to find a picture of my little two year old self dressed in such garb, and have even consulted the home base to no avail.  My Mom often wonders why and how my mind works to document things in my life on this little website, and I believe it may stem from not having that picture.