In the Christmas season of 1977, my father was in the hospital recovering from a stroke that left him paralyzed to this day. I had turned eleven years old and had not yet seen the movie, and would not yet do so until the summer.

I'd read the book, collected cards and received the boardgame from my mother for Christmas, but when my aunt and uncle - lifelong friends of my mother - brought me the two-record set of the Star Wars soundtrack as it was originally released, I was ecstatic.

The soundtrack, complete with a large poster of a battle above the Death Star complete with X and Y wings, TIE Fighters and lasers above the metallic canyons and towers, was a treasure. The poster went right on my wall and the records were played endlessly. It was one of my earliest educations in music. I explored all the themes and incidental music, decided on my favorites and proceeded to wear those bands right off the vinyl. Of course I was excited to have a copy of 'Cantina Band' to play at my leisure. What could be better?

I went on to become a huge fan of bands like Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult, but I would never become averse to classical music because of the fantastic creativity of John Williams and the tremendous inspiration he took from Wagner's 'Ring' trilogy as requested of him by Lucas. I didn't know about the source of the inspiration, and as yet I have not heard Wagner's own opus, but John Williams and his powerful musical ideas and atmosphere-texturing musical themes have stood so large in my mind throughout my life that to this day I own a copy of the music from the original trilogy. I will shortly acquire a copy of the prequel trilogy, which is also exciting and powerful, but that original, as with all of you who grew up in those years with me, sings in my heart. It is at the core of my inner child. Unbelievably, I do not cringe at my use of those two fairly hackneyed expressions, because they are true.

My aunt and uncle have both been gone for some years now, but I will always remember them with great fondness for many things, and especially that wondrous and thoughtful gift.

May the Force be with them, always.