What better way to start my foray into my very own Star Wars blog (added to the pile that includes a Livejournal, a facebook, three e-mail addresses, the smoldered remains of a deleted myspace) than with the throughline of the Star Wars saga, the line that perfectly encapsulates resignation mixed with fear mixed with that 'oh well let's go for it' spirit?

For my first entry I just want to talk a little bit about what Star Wars means to me, how it came into my life and why, after nearly two decades, it is still there, bigger and more influential than ever.

And since I kind of doubt anyone but me will ever read these words (though I'd love to be pleasantly surprised), I'll do just that.

My earliest memory of Star Wars is somewhat vague. I can see myself in the apartment I grew up in, lying on my stomach, hands clasped under my chin in that 'gee whiz' expression (ok maybe it's not so vague), astounded and excited at the images flashing across my tv screen.

The images? All I remember (here there is vagueness!) is Jabba's Palace, mysterious aliens wandering around, a dude in cool battle armour making time with some of the chicks, and a gold covered and completely bewildered droid being press ganged into service for a ruthless slug creature.

Ah, memories...

Now, I'm not quite sure how or why or if I ended up seeing ROTJ first. I probably saw the movies chronologically (at least, the 80's version of Star Wars chronology), but for some reason it's my first memory.

And since then, Star Wars has just, always been there.

It's been with me for years and years, when I would watch the battered old original VHS copies, the final THX releases, and then onto the Special Editions, through to the prequels, the refined special editions. And in between, countless books, comics, toys, video games, and dreams.

I'll get into certain issues (originals vs special editions, OT vs PT, light vs dark, chunky vs creamy etc) in later entries.... it's late and I'm tired!

It's hard to really say why Star Wars resonates so much with me.

Firstly, in my humble opinion it's the greatest story ever told. In that same humble opinion, George Lucas is a genius.

Judging from my present company, I doubt either of those statements will meet with much opposition.

What makes it so brilliant? It's timeless.... it's relateable.... in a world that can be drab, scary, boring, unfair, and hurtful, it's everything I dream a future could be.... where countless planets can be explored, humans can fly and perform super human feats, good wins in the end because brave and just warriors called Jedi live their lives with honor, compassion and hope.

I've dreamed of jedi knighthood and lightsaber duels and flying spaceships over and over again....

Maybe that's why I love it so much, and keep coming back to it. As I get older and the real world tries harder and harder to pry my innocence and dreams away from me, Star Wars is a reminder of exactly why we should dream. The world NEEDS dreamers, like George, like Luke, like you and me.

So the next time you're reading a Star Wars book, watching one of the movies or swinging a digital lightsaber, I reccomend you stop for a moment and give yourself a pat on the back for keeping dreams alive.

May the force be with you!