When the original Star Wars movie came out I was around 12. Dad loved Sci Fi and he kept hearing about this movie. I had seen the trailer and was stoked to see it. Dad loaded up his three girls and took us to the theater. My sister was 8 and wasn't tall enough to see over the people in front of us. I remember her sitting on Dad's lap through most of the film. I think we had some candy we shared.
My dad wasn't a fan of being stuck in a chair for over 2 hours without a cigarette so he was happy to drop us off and go about his business. Star Wars is the only movie I recall seeing in a theater with Dad. We loved the movie and rehashed it over and over again. It was the only movie I could talk about with my dad. I don't think Dad ever bothered to watch any of the sequels, so Episode IV was all we had.
The latest Star Wars episode brought it all back to me. I was relieved to see Han Solo complete with Wookie sidekick. Certainly he was older, possibly wiser, and that didn't matter. He was there just like before. Thank you Carrie Fisher for showing up again as the now General Leia and staying true to the character. I was so happy to see you too, unafraid to speak your mind and take on the bad guys. Pooh, pooh to the critics who picked on you for not looking exactly the same as you did in the original trilogy 30 years ago. You got older and so did I. It's what happens when you don't die.
In the age before we all had video players and Netflix, the only way to see a movie was to "go to the movies" or wait years for something to come to TV. While Stars Wars was one of many movies I saw as a kid, it was for sure the most memorable for my family. We had a moment in time where everyone was on the same page about something we all thought was fantastic. Those moments didn't come often for us. Even though they weren't with me when I saw the latest rendition of Star Wars, the memories flooded in fresh. I was grateful to recall it all.
lw
Addendum 1/1/17
With the sudden passing of Carrie Fisher last week, I found myself a bit low. She wasn't my friend, and I never met her personally, and yet, as a fan I grieved her loss. I appreciated that rather than shrug off the Star Wars character, she embraced Princess Leia once again and portrayed her as an even stronger, mature female character who had done her share of suffering and still, wasn't going to give up. When today's young women envision a princess, I hope it's Carrie Fisher's version that comes to mind instead of some tiara wearing, tantrum throwing, spoiled rich girl. For me, she redefined "princess" as a tough, sassy, smart, champion of justice.
May the Force be you, Carrie Fisher, Your legacy continues.
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