In the comment section of another blogger's entry, I recently lamented that there was no PT-equivalent of Han Solo. But the more I though about it, the more I realized that Solo embraced the Living Force - whether he knew it or not. This discussion also dovetails with some of my recent thoughts on decision-making.
Here's the fourth verse (see my earlier entry if you're wondering where this came from):

As I went home on a Thursday night,
as drunk as drunk could be,
I saw some boots under my bed
where my old boots should be.

I called me wife and I said to her,
"Will you kindly tell to me
who owns those boots under the bed
where my old boots should be?"

"You drunk, you drunk,
you silly old fool, till you cannot see.
Those are two geranium pots that me mother gave to me."

"Well, it's many a day I traveled
a hundred miles or more,
but laces on geranium pots sure I never saw before."

"What are midi-chlorians?"

One of the theories I have is that every person in the SW galaxy has at least one midi-chlorian. This would account for instances of "luck" (or whatever you want to call it). Assuming I'm right, ask yourself this: "Who's the luckiest guy around?"

Easy answer. A scoundrel who hooks up with a princess for a cushy life. But that's just the end of it, not the beginning. Don't forget hanging over the skiff by his ankles (another example of how he's like me - another story for another entry, though).

"There's no all-powerful force controlling my destiny."

Solo doesn't worry about the "grand plan" or the "big picture." Now, myopia can have its own problems, but it greatly benefits Han in the long run (e.g., cushy marriage; I need to find a rich woman). The way he lives on the microcosmic level gave him great macrocosmic rewards.

Another scene I love every single time I see it is where Han charges a whole platoon/ legion (whichever it is, depending on which version you watch) of stormtroopers on the DS1. Foolhardy? Yes. Reckless? Definitely. Effective? You bet, 100% effective. He probably could've got the group onto the Falcon in an easier manner, but it worked.

He saw a problem, analyzed the situation, developed a plan, and acted on the plan - all in a split second. Talk about a minimal conscience and a lack of regret, he's got it in spades.

"Sometimes I amaze even myself."

The only reason Qui-Gon didn't say this after the underwater bongo adventure is the humble nature of the Jedi. A quality Solo never learned at the (Jedi/ Imperial) Academy. I never said Solo was perfect.

Someone coined the term "reluctant hero" to describe Harrison Ford's movie roles; I think it was in regard to a review of Air Force One. I think it fits. He's the guy who doesn't really want to be a hero, but his good nature comes through despite his scruffy-lookin' exterior and his protestations to the contrary. Deep down, he knows the truth. He even admits it when it serves his purposes, "I'm a nice man." (I had a friend, one of the "push bandits," used that on a girl in college and it worked - maybe it was the beer, though).

"Then we just float away."
" ... With the rest of the garbage."

That's the beauty of it all. After all is said and done, he's able to just slink back to where he came from. Even after he gets captured by the baddest bounty hunter around, frozen in carbonite, kept in suspended animation for three years, and helps to blow up the DS2, he just goes back to flying around, being a stay-at-home dad.

Last night, on The Simpsons, Homer told Lisa (in the episode where the gypsy tells Lisa of her future with Hugh), "You're the best thing that's ever been attached to my name, and you did it all by yourself."

That strikes me as something Han would say to his kids. He's just happy taking them to soccer practice (or whatever it is that kids do in the SW galaxy when they're the children of political figures and Force-sensitive), hanging out, doing his thing - much like the "lost years" of Ben between Episodes III and IV. That's what I want. To hang out in my bar (I turned my dining room into a bar and my living room into a billiards room - it's very nice), sipping my drink (non-alcoholic before noon), watching my sports, and reading a good book. Occasionally, I would go out to exercise or take the boy to little league or soccer or whatever.

I figure that if I can remain the reckless decision-maker like Han, I might have a shot at it. At least "one in a million" or so.