Happy 30th Birthday, Star Wars!

Hooray! I don't have too much to say other than I'm obviously glad that the first movie got made all those years ago (and being in the middle of reading The Making of Star Wars, I'm well reminded that its successful making was far from a sure thing). I wasn't quite born in 1977, so I can't offer memories of its first appearing in theaters or anything. But I was born right in the middle of the whole original craze, and I remember that everyone knew what Star Wars was, and could reference Vader and Artoo and Chewbacca without batting an eye. What a great and lasting contribution to our culture. Also, it's just good old fun. I can enjoy it on an intelluctual level and explore all the deep meanings, but my two-year-old can imitate Vader's breathing and shout out characters' names with great gusto. Its appeal is so universal. Again, hooray for Star Wars!

( Thoughts about my novel, largely unrelated to the previous paragraph )