May 19th, 2005. Thus begins the third half of my life.

The first half, which began in May of 1989, was spent watching Episodes IV, V, and VI day after day, amazed at the stories, at the characters, at the symbolism, but mostly at the sound.

Sometime in early 1997, the second half of my life began. George Lucas re-released the Original Trilogy in theaters, and my eight-year-old being was consumed once again by the epic saga and all its intricate workings. Watching the Tantive IV fly overhead followed by the Star Destroyer that seemed to go on forever, I realized that I knew what I was doing with my life. I realized that I was going to help make movies like this. Later that year, George Lucas outdid himself again, announcing the beginning of the Prequel Trilogy. I was exstatic.

Fast-forward to eight years later, roughly noon on May 19th, 2005. I'm sitting in the biggest theater in this little town, waiting anxiously for the first showing to start. This town is small enough that we don't even get midnight showings (Not that I would have been allowed to go anyway). I am sitting, fully costumed, lightsaber in hand, when I come to a realization: This is the end of something fantastic. The Star Wars Saga, which has been amazing me since birth, was about to come to a conclusion. And not only the Saga; my way of life was going to come crumbling down upon me in about two hours and forty-three minutes. I had spent the entire second half of my life, from 1997 until today, anticipating Star Wars. True, George Lucas spoke of re-releasing them all again, in 3-D in '07, and of a live-action TV series, and elaboration on Cartoon Network's Clone Wars Cartoons, but the movies themselves, the centerpiece of the Star Wars universe are now complete.

The third half of my life begins today. May the Force be with you all. Amen.