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I was only three years old when Star Wars came out, but it left some big impressions on me.  I clearly remember loving R2-D2, and being really concerned about everyone screaming in the junk heap as the walls were closing in.  I thought that Princess Leia was the most beautiful woman in the world, and I was the only girl in my kindergarten class that thought Han Solo was a dreamboat.  Every other girl simply adored Luke Skywalker. 

I had the Princess Leia doll, and the first thing I did was take her hair out of the buns.  There were two brown, plastic donuts inside to hold the shape. My mom walked in the room and said, "You took her hair down?!?  Well, we probably can't get the pieces back in." She was right.  I just pretended it was Leia at the end of Episode 4: A New Hope, where her hair is up and back.

Even though I was a girl, I wanted to play Star Wars at recess, when all the other girls wanted to play with fashion dolls.  This was the beginning of my love for all things science fiction.  At a time when boy's and girl's toys were pretty separate, Star Wars evened the playing field a bit.  I think a lot of it has to do with impeccable storytelling.  If a story is told well enough, it doesn't matter what the genre is. Star Wars, in its entirety, is just a classic, beautifully told story about conflict.  Conflict within one's self, conflict between parent and child, and conflict between good and evil.  It's not clear cut.  Some decisions are not easy to make.  I think what I loved the most about the original is the writing.  The dialogue between Luke, Leia, and Han was very modern and fresh.  They weren't pompous or stuffy.  When was the last time any of us heard a princess tell someone off?  Or pick up a blaster and start taking names?  The chemistry between the characters was undeniable.

T.O. Epps, a delightful man who brings amazing toys to QVC, has the coolest Star Wars collectible collection in his office.  That's where I took this picture with Han Solo in Carbonite!

Before my kids were born, and when they were very young, my husband and I went to Wizard World Philadelphia every year.

That's where we got our photos with Boba Fett, Stormtroopers, and Scout Troopers, just to name a few.

Clearly, my excitement over the new films can hardly be contained!  The thought of seeing some of my favorite characters on screen again, is something I never thought would happen. 

I am a huge fan of director J.J. Abrams, and have such confidence in his ability to reinvigorate the franchise.  He brought Star Trek back from the dead (sacrilege!  The same man responsible for Star Trek AND Star Wars! Contrary to some, I actually believe it can be done).  When the trailer came out last Christmas, my whole family was speechless.  So, we watched it again, and again.....and again.  December is still a long time to wait, but I have "a new hope" that this journey will be the beginning of another amazing adventure.  As a traditionalist, I wonder if Han Solo will admit that he truly shot first………………