Celebration Stories: Dave McKew

---

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim left us all with many wonderful memories. From seeing new footage of The Force Awakens to getting pictures & autographs from our favorite celebrities to meeting lifelong friends, SWCA allowed fans of all kinds to have an experience like no other! In a series entitled "Celebration Stories," fans share unique and interesting tales with TheForce.Net straight from the convention floor and beyond!

Today's story is a submission from Dave McKew! Read on as he talks about his meeting with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher!

At Star Wars Celebration Anaheim I had my photo taken with Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. I had prepaid for the photo op weeks earlier, but after spending $195 (plus taxes, fees) I thought to myself "I just spent $195...How can I make this a $195 photo?"

I decided to order three sets of classic Leia hair buns from Amazon and brought them with me to Anaheim.

I was in line for about 90 minutes chatting with a very fun Australian couple, but I started getting really nervous; I knew I'd only get a few seconds with them so I had to win them over instantly if I wanted them to wear the hair buns! As I got close, I put one of the buns on my own head and then I was told I had to check my bag at the door of the photo area... so I kinda snuck the other two bun sets in my hand, hoping the handlers wouldn't notice. (I was afraid of being told "no props.")

I walked into the room, and when I was two people away Carrie saw me wearing one and exclaimed "I love this guy!" So when I got to her I said "Glad you like my hair... because I brought one for everyone!" Carrie screamed "YES!!!" and grabbed one from me -- so Mark was "in" immediately. As I posed, I said "San Francisco loves you" and Carrie said "which one of us?" And I said "both of you." Then they took the shot and I pulled away and Carrie looked at me, clutching her buns, and said "but I get to keep this!" Mark said "aw, no..." like he was about to tell her to give it back. But I quickly said "Keep them, they're yours, they're brand new, I bought them for you" and Carrie was like "REALLY? Thanks!" As I walked out Mark called to me "Give our love to San Francisco!"

Presto. Instant memory.

I knew I had a winner when the woman who retrieved it off the printer farm burst out in uproarious laughter before I even saw the photo. She's seen thousands of these, right? I wonder if this is the first photo ever of Mark Hamill in Carrie Fisher buns?

Notice that Gary Fisher, Carrie's dog, is licking Carrie's bare feet. Icing on the cake for this perfect photo.

This was my fifth Star Wars Celebration (notice all the badges in my photo). I've met dozens of Star Wars actors and behind-the-scenes folks, and have hundreds of autographs from all six films, but this was my best Celebration memory to date. Here's to many more!

Thanks for your submission, Dave! You can follow him on Twitter, @backawayslowly!

Do you have a unique or interesting experience from Star Wars Celebration Anaheim that you'd like to share? Send them to me at chris@theforce.net and you may be featured in a future installment of Celebration Stories!

---

Related Stories:

---