A Missed Tradition
Seven years ago this coming month, a tradition was started by my best friends and I. It is a tradition that I look back on often throughout each year and find myself counting down the days until each following one arrives.
It all began shortly after new years 2006. A friend and I were talking on the phone about the holidays and how we hadn't seen each other in weeks because of our hectic schedules. We agreed that we needed to get together asap and that it needed to be for an extended amount of time. I lightheartedly suggested that ever since the Star Wars Saga had finally all arrived on DVD, I had been promising myself that I was going to sit in the comfort of my recliner and watch an entire day marathon, and asked if he would he be interested in something like that. I was not only surprised to hear that he was interested, but that he thought we should try to invite others and make kind of a party out of it. Three weeks later five of us sat down in my friends theater room at 9:00 on a cool and lazy February Saturday morning to begin the tradition that will forever be known to us as "Geek Fest".
Although the theme of Star Wars was a great way to start the tradition of GF, it was decided shortly after it's conclussion that a rotating theme would be better suited to ensure interest by all involved. The next years was agreed by all as Star Trek. The following year for GF3 a comedy theme was decided. Our number had grown to 7 that year. Each person was to bring their favorite comedy to watch. It was the first year that I was introduced to the likes of Borat and Waiting. Both have since been added to my own collection. GF4 would bring The Indiana Jones Saga and GF5 another creative decision of "the Best/Worst movie that you have ever seen". This also brought many interesting films to my attention. The Last Dragon and The Wraith come to mind. Other choices included Flash Gordon and Breakin'. This past years would become a "Sequels" theme. It would also be, I am sad to say, the first that I would have to miss. My incredible wife was accepted into med school and distance prevented me from attending. I did however make an appearance via skype and it was quite bitter-sweet.
The inaugural GF would start many traditions that have lasted over the years. Alcohol is of course permitted. Well, actually insisted. Food is a plenty as well. Staples consist of pizza, hotwings, chips and of course homemade chili. A shot must be taken by everyone before each movie begins. However, many more are usually taken throughout the course of each film as well. Games are played at times. Varying , from poker, to foosball, to Star Wars Trivial Pursuit, soundtrack trivia, etc. A souvenir was provided by me each of the first five years. A t-shirt, a shot glass, or action figures.
February 24, 2012 will mark my second straight absence from this wonderful event. It has already been determined that this year's will be a Military/War theme and I have already requested another skype cameo. Next year I plan to return strong for GF8! I hope that this will be my return to a long continuing festival! I hope that by GF10 that some of my fellow schmoes may even make it a tradition of their own!
Thanks for reading guys and have an AWESOME 2012!!!
Sad
Thanks alot for reading it faustus! Start up your own or come to ours next year brother!
That sounds like a whole lot of fun! A shame you'll be missing out again, I'd love to start something like that.