Hello WDW Radio Clubhouse family! I’m new here so try to be kind. I can think of no better topic for my first post here than what I have to say today! But before we get into all the Star Wars goodness, quick introductions are in order.
My name is Tyler. I’m 24 years old and I live in Georgia with my wife, Ragan. I am a huge fan of the Disney parks after reigniting my childhood love of Disney on a trip during which I proposed! Since that 2017 trip, we have been back to our “home away from home” several times, and like many of you, we’re always in the pre-planning stage of a Disney vacation whether it happens or not.
I have been a huge fan of Marvel and Star Wars my entire life on a very deep and highly invested level, and I hope my love and passion for these properties (as well as all Disney storytelling on and off the screen) comes through to you. And I’m sure you will all learn a lot more about my personality as it bleeds into my writing.
I have also had a long standing passion for writing ever since little 10-year-old Tyler Johnson had to be sent to a remedial creative writing class. The day writing finally clicked for me, I was hooked.
Imagine my excitement when I was officially made a part of the WDW Radio blog team! My wife and I love Disney from our heads to our toes; from the parks to the screen and everything in between. So naturally, Lou Mongello and everything the WDW Radio community has to offer is a perfect match. I cannot thank Lou enough for giving me a little corner of this oh so populated clubhouse to lend my voice and perspective to this wonderfully positive and warm community Lou has created. Thanks again and I hope you all enjoy these simple black letters that follow.
“May the force be with you” — A phrase that transcends pop culture. Since these words were spoken by a relatively unknown character back in late May 1977, the Star Wars quote has skyrocketed into the public zeitgeist in a way that penetrates us and surrounds us and binds the galaxy together — much like the force itself. It’s so powerful, in fact, that it has received its own day that we recognize every year as Star Wars Day.
Now, as someone who had a lisp when I was younger, and as someone who can appreciate a good pun, I love the aforementioned May 4th holiday we refer to as “May the Fourth Be With You”. But even more than that, I appreciate this day so much as a hardcore Star Wars fan.
Any fandom, but especially Star Wars in recent years, can be described at best as – ahem – contentious. All of my life I have been a positive Star Wars fan and I know that we have all enjoyed Lou’s newest mantra, “Choose the Good”. What I love about a day like May 4th is across the Star Wars fandom, everyone can come together and share in a celebration of the thing they love, hopefully remember to choose the good, and reconnect to the thing that made each and every one of them gravitate to this galaxy in the first place.
Always remember that no matter what it is — a park ride, a song, a movie, or an experience — that thing you may not like is someone else’s all-time favorite. For myself, being born in 1996 means I’m a child of the prequel generation of Star Wars fans, but I love every generation of Star Wars. It’s a rich world of storytelling with compelling action, fantastical locations, beautifully designed ships and wardrobes, deep themes, and some of the most iconic music in cinematic history. Whatever your favorite might be, if you have a love of Star Wars in any capacity, you’re a fan! So be a fan! Celebrate that thing you love and be happy for others who can do the same. Fandom belongs to everyone to appreciate. And that’s what we’re going to do this year.
May the Fourth Be With You is Star Wars appreciation day here. So prepare yourself to choose the Star Wars good with me next week on May 4th as I walk through some of the reasons I appreciate Star Wars. Maybe, just maybe, you will find a new way to love this galaxy far, far away.
