A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away.....

On May 25th, 1977 the world of movies and entertainment would be changed forever. The original 'Star Wars' movie debuted in theaters that year. I was 2 and a half years old. I didn't know the path the lied ahead of me. I wasn't able to see Star Wars in a theater. But I did have the action figures and the ships and the toys the came after that first movie. Names like Obi-Wan and Darth Vader became parts of the English language. We fell in love with R2-D2. Our imaginations soared.

George Lucas' original trilogy changed the way movies were made. The special effects were groundbreaking. He inspired other directors like Steven Speilberg. The films launched the acting careers of Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, and of course, Harrison Ford. And then came the sequels. The Empire Strikes Back and the first Star Wars movie I saw in a theater, Return of The Jedi. It was over. I and millions of others were hooked. We drank all the Star Wars kool aid we could get our hands on. Lucas could do no wrong! Sure the Ewoks were annoying but he surely wouldn't make that mistake twice!

Then came the prequels. Horrible dialog. Stiff acting. And Jar Jar Binks. Revenge of the Sith was the only one that is slightly watchable in my opinion. But recent additions like The Force Awakens and Rogue One have reinvigorated the franchise for a whole new generation while honoring the past at the same time.

So on this 40th anniversary of the movie that started it all, get out your lightsaber. Wear your Darth Vader mask and breath heavily. Be one with The Force. 40 years and still going strong! Thank you, Star Wars. Thank you for my youth. And thank you for making me feel young at heart to this day.

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