Star Wars has been a big part of my life ever since I moved to Florida from Washington. I was either 6 or 7 years old when I watched my first Star Wars movie. Brian Ballance was actually the one that I watched my first Star Wars movie with. Fun Fact, Brian and I have known each other for over 23 years now, ever since the 1st grade. Basically, I've been a Star Wars fan for about 23 years now. That's about 79 % of my life.
The biggest things that I think about when I think of Star Wars are friendships and family. There are friendship relationships that members are like close family. For example: Leia, Luke, Han, and Chewbacca even though Leia and Luke are actually blood related; C-3PO and R2-D2; Obi-Wan and Anakin; the Rebels crew; and you might even say that the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda are like family. I think about that in my own life. Yes, I have my blood related family. There are also 2 families that I've Known for over 23 years now that are also family to me, Brian's family and Anthony Mak's family. I call their parents Mom and Dad and they consider me to be another one of their sons. Some of the Star Wars fans out there are some of the best people you could ever know. Other fans was one of the many reasons that made my first Star Wars Celebration weekend one of the best weekends ever.
My favorite character in Star Wars is Chewbacca. To me, Chewbacca represents loyalty, strength, love, and bravery. Chewie would do anything for Han Solo, his loyalty to Han and those they fly with is as real as it gets. Chewie is not only physically strong with how he can rip arms out of sockets, but he has been through a lot in his life and is able to keep going. Chewie loves Han and the crew like family, so much so you could see how devastated he was when Han and Leia died. Chewie had the bravery to fight along side the crew against evil.
Peter Mayhew, who was the original Chewbacca, was my hero. Not only was he Chewbacca in the movies, but he was also Chewie in real life. With the way he was around his family and friends, to the way he was around the fans, Mayhew was Chewie through and through. He even wore Chewbacca shirts all the time. Mayhew loved the fans. He went to all of the Star Wars Celebrations while he was alive, as well as tons of comic-cons. I've had the opportunity to meet Mayhew 3 times in my life. The fist time was at a comic-con in Florida, where he let me shake his hand for free. The next 2 times were on different days at Star Wars Celebration Orlando, one day for an autograph and another day for a photo op. I try to be the real life Chewbacca in everyone's life, to be like Peter Mayhew each day. If I become famous one day, I'd hope to love the fans the way that Peter Mayhew loved his.
(my picture with Peter Mayhew at Celebration Orlando)
People in my life know how much I love Chewbacca and Wookiees, so they give me Chewie stuff all the time.
(at someone else's birthday party they made sure to have Chewie cupcakes)
(this shirt was one of my birthday/Christmas gifts last year)
(this Chewie mask used in some of my YouTube videos was a gift another year)
( I have a lot of Chewie stuffed animals and action figures)
( a picture of me with 501st I think, I'm wearing my Chewie satchel that I wear to cons. as well as a Chewbacca shirt)
(even the cast and crew of A Streetcar Named Desire that I acted in knew I loved Star Wars and surprised me with this Darth Vader cake around my birthday at a rehearsal)
I know a lot of people don't care too much for the original Holiday Special, but I loved it because we got to see Chewbacca's family on Kashyyyk. Speaking of movies, I like all of the Star Wars movies but I like some more than others. My list order changes around all the time but my favorite Star Wars movie, which is also my favorite movie of all time, stays the same. Here's my current list starting from least favorite going up to my most favorite:
13) The Clone Wars movie
12) The Holiday Special
11) Ep.2 Attack of the Clones
10) Ep.7 The Force Awakens
9) Ep.1 The Phantom Menace
8) Ep.4 A New Hope
7) Ep,9 The Rise of Skywalker
6) Solo: A Star Wars Story
5) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
4) Ep.8 The Last Jedi
3) Ep.5 The Empire Strikes Back
2) Ep.6 Return of the Jedi
1) Ep.3 Revenge of the Sith
Well, I hope you got a good sense of what Star Wars is to me in my life. Maybe you're inspired to watch some Star Wars now. So until my next blog, I hope you have beautiful days ahead of you.
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