Princess Leia And The Force

I am definitely a Star Wars junkie. It started when I was seven and saw the first movie in theaters with my Dad. He’d actually seen it once already just to make sure it wasn’t too scary, and he made me close my eyes when Obi-Wan lopped off Ponda Baba’s arm in the Mos Eisley Cantina. It was years before I actually saw that scene, and let me tell you, what I imagined in my little head was far more gruesome than what was actually shown on screen. Never underestimate the power of a seven-year-old’s imagination.

I desperately wanted to be Princess Leia that Halloween, but we could not find a costume. This was before the movie marketing juggernauts of today, so my Mom made what would be my favorite costume ever. It was a robe-like dress with white vinyl boots and had the coolest belt covered with glittery silver fabric. The best part, though, was a brown wig with loops of yarn perfectly arranged into those famous cinnabuns. I was so rockin’ the cosplay!

Sadly, my cool Leia wig and costume have been lost to the ravages of time, but my love of Star Wars remains. I have the requisite lightsabers and have nearly broken light fixtures with them more times than I can count. My family is addicted to the Lego Star Wars games and I even had a Star Wars vanity plate on my car. (It was PODRCR on a Volkswagen Turbo Beetle.  If you can’t figure it out, shame!)

I don’t dress up for Halloween anymore, but I still want to be Princess Leia and use The Force so every time I approach automatic doors I ever so slightly raise my hand and will them to open. I’ve gotten my kids to do this once or twice at the grocery store and if we time it just right we are the perfect Jedi family.

This weekend I used The Force on the super-fast doors at the entrance to the subway station. It worked perfectly on the way in, but on the way out, my powers were apparently weakened and halfway through the doors they closed. That’s right, my arm was nearly lopped off just like Ponda Baba’s. Thankfully, the doors were not as sharp as a lightsaber and my arm is still attached to my body. Next time, though, I’ll be a bit more cautious. Jedi Master, I am not….yet.