YODA, YODA, YODA

Long ago in a puppetry guild far, far away (well, right here, actually), a valiant young man decided to dedicate his life in service of The Force (which, as we all know, is just another name for Puppetry.) He would not tread the easy path, this Skinny Boy Skywalker. No, he would face the most arduous tasks willingly and unafraid: to lead, for a time, the Guild and the entire Puppetverse as its President; to send forth reams of Written Word into the Guild's information-hungry realms; and to vanquish the Dark Lord, Darth Model Magic. These deeds are the bold stuff of legend.

And now, this wise and noble warrior, a full-fledged Jedi Knight of the Puppet, steps aside as the Guild's Pretty Great Editor, and turns his talents once again to serve the Puppetverse At Large. But he does not abandon his people; he leaves his Young Apprentice, TC-Threepio, to make known the Force's words. But is she ready?

"My Young Apprentice," says he, "Can you find room to stuff in a last-minute article when you thought your work was done?"

"Yes, My Master."

"Can you endure the torturous bite of label adhesive even though your thumbs are raw?"

"Yes, My Master."

"Can you resist the siren call of Dairy Queen until each issue is complete?......Well? Apprentice?"

"I'm thinking... Okay. Maybe, My Master."

"Close enough."

And so the Young Jedi begins her excellent adventure, while the Old Pleasantly Mature Jedi rises to Ever Greater Challenges. Seek him in the hallowed Journals of Puppetry, in the Universe of Cyber-Forceness, and on the fourth Sunday of the month along with the rest of us yokels.

May The Force Be With You, Paul. You'll always be our Star; no Wars need be fought about that.

Copyright 1999 Freshwater Pearls Puppetry