You know, I was born 4 months and a day after A New Hope opened up in 1977. My mom went to see the movie twice, pregnant with me. I knew nothing of the Star Wars universe at that time. I was probably about 7 years old when I first saw the OT. They were among the first videotapes that my parents bought. I think at that point I was still too young to understand what the movies would actually tell me.

As I got older, we would watch the movies occasionally, but my parents didn't believe in letting us watch a lot of TV. We always were reading. I remember reading Star Wars, the book, when I was about 11 or 12 yrs old. I love listening to music, and my favorite thing to listen to was the Star Wars soundtrack on LP. I would listen to it all the time. I started to get more into the movies. One summer, I decided to watch all three movies in three days before I started back to school. It then became a tradition for every summer before school started.

After high school, I was then able to buy my own copies of the OT. I learned about ebay and started using the auctions. I had a small collection, but my true loves were watching the movies and reading whatever books I could get my hands onto.

I remember being so excited when I learned that George Lucas was releasing a special edition for the OT into the theatres. This was going to be my chance to actually see them on the big screen. I saw all three in the theatres at least a couple times each, sometimes more. That basically started my downfall. I started to become the freak that I am today.

When I learned that he was going to do a Prequel Trilogy, I was excited. As each one came out, I got more into the SWU. It was great to learn the answers to questions brought on by the OT. It was at that time that I started to read more of the EU. The characters became more real to me. They were like living people. My collection got a little bit larger. My family was getting a little worried about me, but I didn't care.

Being the SW Fan that I am, the one thing that irratates me are people that compare the OT to the PT. Yes, Lucas started a revolution with his special effects in the OT. You can't compare to that. He has just expanded on that so much. People talk about how slow the PT is. The Prequel is the beginning of the story. It's not suppose to be fast. I understand what Lucas was trying to accomplish with the stories and I think he did a great job.

This life as a SW Fan is not over because this being the last movie. It will continue on even if another book isn't written or nothing else is broadcast. I will always have my memories and I thank Mr. Lucas for giving me some great ones.