48 years ago, Star Wars happened, and it changed my life entirely. I wasn’t there on the first day, but a few days later, the family was taking my brother to Philadelphia to learn about therapy, which my parents would do with my brother for years after. They should take me, of course, so I was a bit left out on days where they gave it to learning about what to do with my brother. Understanding this, they planned a few events just for me/us being tourists. So one afternoon, dad and I were walking through the streets of Philadelphia when we came across a theater. Dad casually asked, “Want to see a movie?” Two screens. My choices were Star Wars or The Bad News Bears. I was 7 years old.
That absolutely changed everything. I signed a contract in blood with George Lucas, I’ve been saying for years, and I have always been a Star Wars geek. I watch every show, every movie. I read every book, or close to it (I’ve lost a few in recent years). I’ve played the card game (still selling the rest of the cards off), have a number of the board games (and figures, and an AT-AT, and Disney figures and…). I’ve played the video games, and just completed Jedi: Survivor. I know when it’s crap. I know when it’s brilliant. I know it’s all subjective and don’t get too judgey when people disagree.
That said, 48 years of one of the things that defined me. That’s a legacy.
Bill Abbott, poet, web page 