Thursday, September 19, 2013

Ray Park

Three years ago, when life was being lived in Disney World, I got to go to a very cool martial arts show in Hollywood Studios.  Being Star Wars Weekends, they had Ray Park there.  In case you don't know, he played Darth Maul in Episode 1.  Honestly, I really don't like the first three movies.  They don't even feel like Star Wars.  The originals (4, 5 and 6) are MUCH better.  However, this show was AMAZING.  It was probably about 45 min to an hour long and very, very cool.  Ray Park is such a nice guy.  Not that I really know him or anything, but he was so cute with the kids up on the stage.  Gotta love the accent too. *sigh* ;)  So worth the line we waited in.

A couple of weeks ago my brother came to tell me he'd just bought tickets to Salt Lake's Comic Con.  I had no idea we even had one and was kinda bummed that I couldn't go.  As a consolation prize though, he told me he was willing to take something to get signed if I wanted.  As soon as he told me Ray Park was there, that was it.  That was what I wanted.

We rummaged around the house as I tried to think of something I could have him take.  I don't like the movie, and therefore don't own it, so it's not like I could give him that to have him sign.  Kyle has this cool Star Wars Weekends messenger bag he could have used, but that's his bag and not mine.  Still no go.  I thought maybe my sparring gear helmet!  But, this had to be something that he could carry around with him the whole day so that didn't work either.  I don't have any weapons for him to sign, but that finally reminded me that Little One has a pair of padded chucks.  Sweet!  I gave Kyle those and told Little One I'd replace her chucks.

Kyle was pretty excited to tell me about getting them signed.  Apparently, Ray Park was very impressed.  He told Kyle that no one had ever brought him something so cool to sign.  He even got up and played with them.  Kyle has a little video of it, but he hasn't sent it to me yet.  I guess he was also very impressed that we'd seen him in Disney World and now Little One and I are taking karate too.  I hope he comes again next year and I'll be sure and go meet him myself.  I still won't be to black belt yet, but a year close than I am now. :)  I'm not sure what he wrote after his signature, or what the marks on the other chuck mean, but very cool still.