One of my first Star Wars memories involves Bob Seager's song "Still the Same" (ya, that's how old I am.) Everytime I hear that song it reminds me of being on vacation in Sanbornville, NH and my grandfather driving down to Max's (a little country store that sold Topps Star Wars trading cards). I used to carry them around everywhere I went.

The first time I had seen Star Wars was in Rochester NH. The second time was at the Revere Drive-in, (Yeah Drive-in) in Revere MA. I got this cool little booklet with a bunch of Star Wars toys in it. I was only four, so my memories are a little vague. Just images really, feelings.

I still can recall the day I got my first figure. It was a bright sunny day in Lynn, MA at the local Woolworths. The sun seemed to shine down on an end cap of Star Wars figures...Luke Skywalker it was. Ah, that was a good day.

Christmas that year... FORGETABOUTIT, Man. That was great...Darth Vader doll, Millennium Falcon, the rest of the 12 figures that was out at the time, the soundtrack (I still listen to that all time, just not the vinyl as much any more, but I still have it). Another item I still have I got that X-mas, the Chewbacca and R2-D2 stuffed dolls.

Fast forward a bit..." The Star Wars Holiday Special". I remember sending away for Boba Fett, the dude in the cartoon. At that time, I didn't know there was more to come.

A couple years later, 1980, my local Toys'R'Us... Me and my grandmother were looking around when she said " What about a Star Wars figure?" My response was "I already have them all!", but to my surprise, I DIDN'T have these. Brand new figures, "WOW A NEW MOVIE!", a snowtrooper it was. That was my first "Empire" figure and how I found out about the new movie.

Empire, I saw on a rainy day. I had brought all my figures with me , but my parents wouldn't let me bring them into the cinema. To this day when it rains it reminds of of that day.

Jump ahead '83...again I was on vacation with my cousin in Maine. I got Leia in Boushh and he got the Gamorrean Guard. I remember playing with them on the beach that whole weekend.

Jedi, was the only movie I've ever seen that got a standing ovation. People applauded through the entire credits.

Driving by the woods, I would hold my Biker Scout and Speeder bike up so it looked liked it was moving through the woods. If I didn't have any toys, I would just imagine it was there. I still had my trusty Topps Star Wars cards wrapped with an elastic band in my pocket.

Saturday Mornings- " THE STAR WARS CARTOON HOUR", ya baby, I was there. I'd never miss it. Ah, the memories.

Fast forward, 1995...The "THX Remastered Box Set". That just started a whole new adventure in the next cycle of the Star Wars journey. By that time, I had seen the films like 100 times, but watching those videos was like seeing it for the first time. Did I hear that right in the interview? Special Edition? NEW MOVIES? YEEEESSSS!!!

Now I have widescreen cards.

1997- The films came out again. I LOVED THEM, Man. You see Jabba. Check out the windows in Cloud City, the battle of Yavin, the Sarlacc, and Wampa, OH MY. It was heaven.

The month before the new film came out, I saw the video for "Dual of the Fates". I ran out and bought the tape (yeah, tape) and fell in love with the soundtrack. I wore it out before the film came out and had to buy the CD.
Driving around, just listening to that for hours was cool.

Two years after the special editions, TPM. Unlike some, I didn't expect to see the greatest movie (or greatest Star Wars movie) ever made. But Man, I F'in LOVED IT! I'd seen it 8 times and everytime I saw it, the theater erupted in applause. It was great!

2002- AOTC...I loved it! That spring/summer, there was a real sense of community with fans. People would come up to me at the local Wal-Mart (men, women and children) and talk Star Wars (the new film) and everything else Star Wars under the sun. Cool!

Sith, oh man, Sith. What can be said about Sith besides BRILLIANT! I left the theater speechless. I was moved. I was blown away. Not only was it arguably the best film, it made all the others better as well.

THE CIRCLE IS NOW COMPLETE!

Later,
MTFBWY

P.S. I still have those trading cards, except now they're in binders.