A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Thirty years ago today one of the most groundbreaking and innovative films in history hit theaters nationwide. It proceeded to troop across the U.S. by storm (sorry, I couldn't resist) and become a colossal money-maker. Star Wars. The original Star Wars. I wasn't actually born until the year Return of the Jedi came out, but all three of the movies made a permanent and lasting impression on my young mind. In honor of thirty years of Star Wars legacy, I decided to take some time to reflect on a few of the ways Star Wars has influenced my own life.

1. It opened my imagination to a whole new world of spaceships, lasers, fantastic planets, and of course Jedi. I distinctly remember countless afternoons after school running around with my sister and my best friend pretending that we had lightsabers and were trying to save the galaxy. Of course, I always played Luke Skywalker. When it came time to write stories in 6th grade, I wrote the first part of my own Star Wars trilogy with myself as the main character. I enjoyed it so much I went on to write the second two parts, and I still have them somewhere.

2. It strengthened the confidence of my inner geek by helping me realize that it could be pretty cool to like geeky kind of stuff. Sometimes...

3. It forged a special bond between me and my cousins which began with hand-me-down toys and continues through Star Wars video games. Over the years it has practically become a trait in the family genes to be a Star Wars lover.

4. It has occasionally helped me escape reality for a few brief moments. When I was caught up in the Star Wars universe, I could dream big and imagine beyond reality. I even was determined to build my own working speeder bike!

Thank you Star Wars for bringing magic into movies and helping kids and adults of all ages and backgrounds escape into a world of imagination and fun. Here's to thirty more years of your legacy.

The Pool is Open!

After the apartment complex we lived at in Naperville, I never expected to be so excited about that phrase. When Memorial Day came around and the pool opened, no one cared. The pool had no aesthetic appeal, no privacy, and no one interested in using it (probably because you can't even really use it until July!). However, when I saw the sign saying that the pool is open posted at our apartment in North Carolina, it was a day of rejoicing. In fact, the pool opening was an event a long time overdue considering that the weather has been pool-worthy for about the last month. In contrast to the pool in Naperville, the pool here is surrounded by nice tall trees, it looks pleasant to be in, and- surprise!- people actually use it. The only thing better than the pool opening will be the first trip to the beach, but for now I can catch my rays at our lovely complex pool. Actually, I think I'm going to head down there right now.......