I was thinking back this evening to when The Empire Strikes Back first came out. The story of Star Wars had enthused us all, and made us dream of another universe where good conquers evil. Then came along the Empire Strikes Back. I made the mistake of reading the book before I saw the movie, and although I loved the movie, I kept wishing for a different ending. I wanted Han to be saved NOW! I didn't want Luke to lose his hand in a lightsaber battle. And Darth Vader! Seriously, Luke's father!?! It was immense! All this and I was only in 8th grade! (The picture with this blog...it was on my spiral notebook I used for science that year in school!)

The story was already fascinating, and now we have more aliens, father and son, a love relationship blooming! I remember driving back home from the theater, my sister driving, and we would have the best conversations about the movie and what we thought would happen next. It was like talking about friends, and what we hoped would happen.

I kept hoping the Han and Leia thing would work out. I knew there was someone else for Luke. Leia was sooo cool, but she just wasn't right for Luke, and finally when we saw Return of the Jedi, we totally knew why that was so!

The stories still intrigue me till today. I have read just about every Star Wars novel, comic, young adult novel there is, and the story continues to amaze me. The vastness of the galaxy of ideas that Star Wars is, is a testament to what a great story it truly is.

Just wondering did any of you spend long hours talking with a brother or sister about the movies, what you thought would happen or why what did happen, happen that way? My sister and I would talk for ever and when she went off to college we spent lots of time long distance on the phone (I'm sure my parents loved that!) and in letters discussing the story and what was happening.

One of our biggest debates was about the Empire Strikes Back, and if Lando turned off the carbonite to start melting Han, when he knelt down to check if Han had survived. I was sure that he had and that he had found a way to help his friends. However, that prediction was not accurate, but it sure was fun to think about and plan.

When Return of the Jedi came out, I talked my sister's boyfriend into letting me go on their date, so I could see the movie with them. It'd already been out 2 days, and I couldn't wait any longer to see it. I wasn't old enough to drive, and most of my friends weren't Star Wars fans. It was so much fun buying a Return of the Jedi poster and pin, and then I was so excited before the movie started; I spilled my popcorn on the lady next to me! What a crazy kid. Oh, but what happy memories.

And even more fun, my son, who is in 8th grade, is a big Star Wars fan too. We have great conversations about the stories - not as many now that he's in middle school and interested in his first girlfriend, but it's still a good connection for us. He's big into the Star Wars Commando novels, and the clones. It's great even after all of these years to still find friends, and family who love to talk about the story as much as I do! And to add to the fun, my husband loves Star Trek, and so does our daughter. The debates continue even better...the Enterprise or the Millennium Falcon?? Hmmm....personally for me...I choose the Falcon!