THANK YOU GEORGE
By Don "Don of the Dead" Hinrichs

Is it possible? I actually have more toys at 29 than at 9! Yes it is.

My life always has had George Lucas's Star Wars intertwined with it, from my childhood to my current job. I feel a good part of my life has been shaped by a Georges galaxy far far away, I grew up knowing I wanted to help people, I wanted to be a Police Officer, sadly due to a medical condition I was unable to do this, so I make due catching shoplifters for a local store, its my small way of helping fight "evil" in this crazy world.

Star Wars taught me many things, the nature of good and evil (Rebels and Empire) you’ll find friends in the oddest places (Han and Chewie, Lando) Never judge someone on their appearance (Yoda, the Ewoks) There is good in everyone, the power of redemption (Vader, Lando)

I feel a flashback coming on…

I got older, and bigger, and I've gained a sidekick! My SW geek buddy Bobby Lopez!

1977, 1980, & 1983

I first saw Star Wars at age 3, my first theater movie ever. I remember bits and pieces, Darth Vader, Tuskin Raiders, 3PO and R2, pure childhood magic. My first Post-Star Wars Christmas I remember getting 3 figures in my stocking, Princess Leia, C3P0 and a Stormtrooper, I still have these figures, Leia is in 3 pieces, but I can't bear to throw her away.

As I got older and being the age I am was lucky enough to also see Empire and Jedi in the theaters, I remember my dad reading us the paperback book of Jedi on a long vacation car trip, imagining what the aliens would look like in my head. I remember many a Christmas tearing open many presents that held ships and creatures and action figures (which by luck I still have many of) I remember playing Star Wars on the playground all through grade school.

1996

Star Wars has lain dormant in my mind, always there but not in its full glory, but then: Hasbro re-releases my favorite toys of all time and Fox re-releases my favorite movies. It is a good time to be a young adult; I have a job so I can buy my own toys, no more waiting for Christmas for me! It starts with 2 figures, then it grew, they were making figures of characters that the never made when I was a kid!

Either she really loves me, or I have a HUGE.....insurance policy (I know what you were thinking...sickos!)

1999 & 2002

Episode 1 The Phantom Menace, but also love is in the air, I meet a young woman at work, who surprisingly loves me and isn't scared off by a 23-year-old man with a room full of Star Wars Toys. This woman, who had only known me 2 months, waited in line with me not only for tickets and to see the movie, but toys as well. Together we probably spent 36 hours waiting in lines. Episode 2 Attack of the Clones we did same thing. I am now proud to say that last year on June 11 th 2004 I made this wonderful, beautiful woman my wife. 2005 Well its almost upon us, in less than 2 weeks of me writing this, Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith will be unleashed upon the world. In 15 days we will see Anakin Skywalker give himself to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader. In 15 days we will all flood to theaters, sit in anticipation, watch with wide eyes, and cheer George Lucas's genius.

In 16 days many of us will be feeling down.
This is the end of the movies, sure Lucas is going to be doing a TV show and a cartoon, but I'll never again get to wait in line for tickets for the films or the toys with my fellow Star Wars fans, never again await a trailer, never again have to avoid spoilers at every turn to keep the movie a surprise.

But now that I think about it, Star Wars has given me a lifetime of happiness, even if there is no more movies, I can walk into my toy room and be transported back to my childhood, I can pop in the DVD's any time and enjoy the films I grew up with and the films I entered adulthood with. And most of all I can look at my wife, whom I got to know waiting in line for the prequels, who accepts me and my obsession and loves the films almost as much as I do.

Thank You George Lucas.