I was thinking of the new GL stormtrooper figure and remembering days gone by. Ahh, the anticipation of mail order action figures. Going to the mail box and hoping this day will be the day. Wondering "could the order have been lost and if it had what then. Did I miss out?"

Anyone over a particular age may have some memories of the mail-in figure promotions of Star Wars' past. Some probably remember the original early bird offers, though I personally did not take part in it. My first figures were bought at Sears back when they actually had toy departments in the department stores. I think they were R2-D2, Luke, & Leia. I've probably shot over some of you young guys' heads right about know. Plus that's for another time. Let me get back on track before I sound too much like one of those old guys sitting around saying "Back in my day..."

Anyway the first major exciting mail-in figure was Boba Fett. I remember racing to the mailbox each day to see if it had arrived. Much like Ralphie in A Christmas Story as he awaited his decoder ring. The joys of simpler times. We had a glimpse of him in the animated short associated with the Holiday Special and they were making him into a figure! I was giddy with glee and excitement. Of course there was disappointment when it did arrive and I read the accompanying letter. No firing jet pack! Still the moment that little white box with Kenner on the return address was like seeing the holy grail upon opening the mailbox. He is to this day one of my most well used figures which is indicated by all the paint touch-ups.

I had a chance to see other mail-ins come my way. The baggy filled with gas masks and a back pack for Luke and Yoda that came after Empire. Then my last offer I took advantage of was the Anakin Skywalker figure after Return of the Jedi.

I want to say that I received the four cantina aliens (including blue snaggletooth) via mail I seem to remember them coming with a now long gone cardboard cantina backdrop. I'm getting older and it can be hard to remember details sometimes.

I still can get excited by things I am expecting in the mail. Tickets I've ordered online, the force fx Anakin lightsaber I ordered last year, the early bird figures from last years promotion, a cockpit and figure detail kit for a vintage viper model have all had me on pins and needles in recent years. Maybe I'm a little impatient. Maybe it's just the wide-eyed kid that still lives on inside me. Or perhaps that still lives in all of us.

No, we won't find true happiness or the meaning of life with a mail-in toy, but the small joys of life can make things just that much pleasurable until we do.