Saturday, December 13, 2014

How Star Wars Hit My Family



And not for the first time. I fell in love with Star Wars when it first came out. Actually, John Williams’ music captured me and never let go. That movie (plus Star Trek) led to my writing science fiction romance. My son became enamored with the movie. When he was five, I took him and his best friend (6) to see The Empire Strikes Back. There’s nothing like sitting between two boys—in the first row, no less—with one (the friend) leaning over me and asking who’s that? His single mother never took him to see A New Hope. So it was up to me (her best friend) to take him to the movie all the kids talked about.

For Christmas that year and subsequent years, my son begged for the Millennium Falcon. I think it cost $30+ and at the time that seemed like a lot of money for a kid’s Christmas gift. Eventually, Hubs and I broke down and got it for him. He had all the action figures and even a Darth Vader carrying case. When Hubs wanted me to sell off the toys at a garage sale, I resisted. “He’ll want them for his kids someday.” Yeah, right. After schlepping those toys through five moves, last year we finally took the box of Star Wars (and Buck Rogers, too) toys out to our son in Arizona. He’d better not sell them now. LOL

Enter the next generation. Our five-year-old grandson (daughter’s child) is obsessed with Star Wars. He builds LEGO starships, plays SW games on Wii, knows all the characters, and insists we watch one of the movies every time he spends the night. For research—not because I love Star Wars ;)—I bought several Star Wars pictorial books. For a rough and tumble boy, he is surprisingly careful with them. Not so my dusters. He and sister used them as light sabers until they broke and their mother made them new ones out of pool noodles and duct tape. And what does he want for Christmas? A LEGO Star Wars spaceship that costs a heck of a lot more than $30. Inflation???


I’m not sure who is more excited about the upcoming Star Wars movie—my grandson or me?

Back to my son. He and his wife are expecting a girl in the spring. Who do you think will encourage her interest in Star Wars? Hehehe.


Diane Burton once knew the name of every Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronaut. After watching the first Star Wars movie, she knew she wanted to write about space adventure. Her Outer Rim series (The Pilot, The Chameleon) are about strong women on the frontier of space. Read about her books at www.dianeburton.com

10 comments:

Patricia Kiyono said...

Ha! I know what you mean about keeping our kids' things in the belief that someday their kids will want them! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. My grandkids LOVE their mom's old books, but not much else - yet. How wonderful that you and your son and grandkids share that love of Star Wars!

Margo Hoornstra said...

We are in the hanging on to stuff the kids may or may not want in the future mode too. How great is it, though, that you have so much in common with two other generations!

Maureen said...

It's amazing how it continues on through the generations. Show what an amazing story and concept can do. Congrats on the new gran baby!

Alicia Dean said...

Very cool that your kids and grandkids share your Star Wars obsession. :) I love it when you can share things like that with new generations (is that the name of a star trek show or something? :))

Diane Burton said...

Patty & Margo, I hang onto too much stuff. You know, the I'm sure I'll sure it someday mentality. Glad I'm not alone.

Diane Burton said...

Maureen, you're right. It's timeless. It's wonderful to share one's obsession. :)

Diane Burton said...

Alicia, for someone not into sci-fi it's amazing you knew that. :)

Melissa Keir said...

I love that Star Wars keeps giving to the next generation! They have their own favorites and now talk about the movies like they were historical facts. :)

Susan Coryell said...

I found the first Star Wars movie enchanting--loved the bar scene. My two sons took up the fascination with Legos and SW toys. None survived for grand kids, alas. FUN post!

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

I was twelve the first time I saw Star Wars. Saw it with my brother. I'm not sure if I'm excited about the new one because of how bloody awful Episode 3 was. I'm kind of jaded.
I loved your post and your excitement, though!
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