I have a picture of my husband from our wedding day. He is all decked out in a handsome looking black tuxedo, shiny new shoes, and a black cape looking so... like Darth Vader! He actually put on a mask he owned. He didn’t wear it to the church or to the reception, but I wish he had. It would’ve added one more charming detail to an already perfect, perfect day.

My husband has been a Star Wars fan since ‘77. We would watch the movies and he would recite the scripts word for word. He was such a big fan, of the first two movies to be precise, that I suggested that if we ever had any children we could name them Luke or Leia.

Now my daughter, not named Leia, much to her chagrin, is an avid Star Wars fan as well. She calls herself Leia and her friends do too. She left her dad in the dust in her knowledge of all things Star Wars! She can also recite the movie scripts verbatim. For years my husband had been trying to get her to enjoy the movies but it wasn’t until 1999 that she finally became a convert when my niece, Cristina, gave her a Star Wars book to read. Her world now is the Star Wars universe. She has a myriad of toys and figurines. Her bedroom could pass for a mini Star Wars museum. She has read about 85 of the books and is also on the last chapters of a book she is writing; Star Wars, of course.

I enjoy the movies but am not obsessed with them, but the memories because of the saga are some of my favorites. I have enjoyed watching my husband and daughter play with the figures, making up the story as they went along, the soundtrack playing in the background. When she giggled and laughed along with her dad, I engraved the moments in my heart. I love listening to them have discussions about everything Star Wars. I love watching them sit next to each other and play video games. I love listening to her play the music on her instruments.

The wealth and fame of the movies have probably exceeded George Lucas’ wildest imaginations. What he didn’t know was how his creation would affect many people. So to Mr. Lucas I say, thanks for all the memories!

“The Force will be with you.... always!”
~Obi-Wan Kenobi, A New Hope