Above and beyond everything else I’ve posted about Star Wars over the last 10 days or so, what I love the most is that it’s something I can share with my family. From the time I was a kid, Star Wars played a big part in my childhood and was something my brothers and I played together. Once I had my own kids, I discovered how much fun it is to share the stories and characters of Star Wars with them. I mentioned in my post yesterday about taking my young boys to Episode I in the theater. Well, their love for Star Wars continues, if even at different levels. In 2010, we attended our first Star Wars Celebration in Orlando. My kids (now teenagers) were able to go do what they wanted to do and see the panels and other activities that they wanted to see. They had a blast. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years trooping with the 501st, going to the new movies, going on what we call “Trench Runs” (dashing from store to store looking for Star Wars toys) and going to conventions. This past year for Christmas, my youngest son (now 19) asked for VINTAGE Star Wars action figures for Christmas. For years, he wanted his very own Graflex flash gun converted to a replica of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. He now has one.

Star Wars has also given me some of the best friends I’ve ever had. Friends that I consider brothers and sisters. Friends that I truly believe will be life-long. Friends that I know would be there for me if I needed them – and have been. Their friendships are very valuable to me, and I’m so very thankful for them.

Beyond sharing Star Wars with my kids, and the friends I’ve made, there’s an additional, very special reason why I love Star Wars: Star Wars is how I met my amazing, adorable, gorgeous wife. We met as members of the 501st Legion, and while we lived in different states, we built a relationship over the years and I eventually became the luckiest man on the planet when she said yes. We troop together often (we did today as a matter of fact) and it’s something we both love. Without Star Wars, I would have never met this amazing woman who makes me want to be the best person I can be. I adore her. Thank-you, Uncle George. 😉

So there you have it. 10 reasons why I love Star Wars. Maybe it was what you were expecting, but maybe it wasn’t. I realize that not everyone’s a fan, and that Star Wars isn’t for everyone. But if you’ve been dismissing Star Wars as a bunch of “silly little movies”, maybe think about giving them a chance. They’re full of adventure, excitement, surprises, humor, lovable characters, and they’re family-friendly. Whether you’re a fan or not, I hope you’ve enjoyed my little adventure in writing here. Thank you for taking the time to read. If you’re a fan, I’ll see you at the theater on December 18th for “The Force Awakens”… and may the Force be with you!