A short time ago in a living room not far away...

It finally happened!

I finally convinced my 12-year-old daughter, Sophia, to sit down and watch Star Wars. She has always shown interest in the franchise, but I have never been able to get her to watch what I consider one of the greatest trilogies ever filmed.

I'm nerdy in that way. I have never been much of a Sci-Fi fan and I can't stomach Star Trek, but ever since I was a young tyke, I have been a fan of George Lucas' original three movies. Now I know that there are actually six movies total so it is not technically a trilogy, but the last three I kind of hide in the back of my memory as they weren't great. If you are not familiar with the Star Wars franchise, the first movie, Star Wars, A New Hope, hit the silver screens in 1976 and set box office records. In 1980, The Empire Strikes Back (and, just like the Godfather trilogy, the second movie was best) and the final film, Return of the Jedi in 1983, presented the stories of Luke, Han, Chewie and the gang in a way that I loved as a child and admire as an adult. I've always wanted to sit and watch these three movies with my daughter and she finally agreed starting two weeks ago.

The popcorn was popped, the spots on the couch picked and then the movies started.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

"Duuuuun, dun, dundundundun-duuuun!"

The opening music still gave me nerd-bumps when I heard again for the first time in over 10 years. It took me back to 1976 as I sat in the back of my father's Chevy Van as we listened to the audio from the speaker hanging on the window at a drive in theater somewhere in Idaho Falls, Idaho (and oh, how I longed for a can of Tab and bag of Muchos Potato Crisps. )

I didn't think Sophia was into the movie at first, but after awhile she started laughing at the gags, questioned why Luke Skywalker was acting like a baby and enjoyed the way Darth Vader dealt with his employees. Before we knew it, the Death Star had been destroyed, Luke and Han where awarded medals for their courage and Sophia questioned why Chewbacca received zip for his efforts.

Last weekend, we ventured into Empire with the same results. This weekend, Jedi is on tap and Sophia is excited to see how the trilogy wraps up.

Who says that children of today "just don't get it?" I'm not sure what "it is" but as far as Star Wars, like father, like daughter (the sad ending of this story is that I am now committed to watching the slew of Harry Potter movies that have been filmed. I will try and have as open of a mind as Sophia did with me...use the Force, Mark.)

Thanks for reading and aloha.