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Goodbye, for now, Star Wars Fans

© Shelly G. Hemig

It has become apparent to me, as I'm sure it has to you, that I am no longer able to do justice to this topic. I have not been able recently to devote the time to it that I would like, and that the topic deserves. Therefore, I am resigning as contributing editor, in order to leave the position open for someone who can nurture it better than I.

I hope you will indulge me as I take a little journey down my personal memory lane, to discuss what drew me to this topic in the first place. Maybe it will help you to recall some memories of your own.

I have been a fan of Star Wars since I saw the original in theaters when it was first released in late 1977. As I've admitted in previous articles, I was quite smitten with young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Han Solo (Harrison Ford) still had a little too much smuggler in him for my tastes in that first movie. I also very much admired Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), who was so strong and brave for such a young woman. I remember wishing to be more like her, instead of the shy, quiet girl I was at that time.

I was really into all things fantastical growing up. I read C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia over and over again, until the paperback covers of the book were battered. I moved on to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," then the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Then there was Terry Brooks and his land of Shannara, with all its associated adventures. But I never got into science fiction, at least not in books.

I was amazed by what I saw in Star Wars. I felt completely transported to that galaxy far, far away. The movie may have had flaws, but my 10-year-old eyes missed every one. I was hooked.

I waited impatiently, like everyone else, for the next installment. When I did finally get to see The Empire Strikes Back in mid-1980, it was a special occasion on more than one level, as I mentioned in another article. I was only 12 1/2 at the time, and I had just started reading Stephen King books. (My first was "The Shining," and it left a lasting impression.) Even so, the darkness of this second installment surprised me. I remember clearly thinking, "The movie's already been on a long time. How are they possibly going to rescue Han before the end?"

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