A Galaxy Far, Far Away

30 years. 30 years can disappear in an instant.

Ethan has been really into Star Wars the last couple months. It all stemmed from Angry Birds Star Wars. He started to learn the names of the characters and how they interacted with each other. He then found some videos online that explored the “Star Wars Universe” even further and he was hooked. He’ll watch the movies, but I’m not sure if he does it because he is enjoying it or because he feels he “has to” like them.

As we were sitting around the other night, I thought it was a good idea to head down to the basement and see if I could dig up any of my old Star Wars toys from when I was a kid. I was able to locate many of the toys from my past (thanks, Mom). Some were missing stickers, some were missing parts, some were just all-together missing. The toys look 30 years old and don’t have any of the bells and whistles that new toys do, however Ethan was thrilled to be able to play with them. He kept asking, “Dad, did you save these toys just for me?”

It was all we all we could do to even get him to go to bed.  He’s spent the last few days and nights playing with all of the vintage toys, just like I did with my brothers and cousins.  He’s even gotten to the point that he has Ben learning the names and playing right along.    He’s even begun watching the movies.

We have portable DVD players in the car and no matter how short of long the trip is, Return of the Jedi is on a constant loop.  He is so in love with the “Jaba part” that he will play that opening half hour of the movie continually.  I wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point, the DVD is too worn out to even play these parts.

While it’s been many years since I went through the same Star Wars phase, the memories came flooding back as I watched Ethan play with all the toys and watch the movies.  It’s almost as though I could briefly look back in time and see myself at that age playing in the same ways Ethan has picked up.

My hope now is that all of these same toys, as well as those that he has begun to gather, can last another 30 years so that Ethan can have these same experiences with his children one day.