For many, today is considered Star Wars day. To no one's surprise, I am part of that "many".
I wasn't planning on posting today. Then I saw @mctiller 's post.
I thought to myself, "Are you a freaking idiot? It's Star Wars day man! You have to post!"
Obviously, I am more than a little obsessed with Star Wars. Not only are my handle and avatar based on the movie, I am pretty sure I am the only person on here who has dedicated a 1500+ word post to the terrible Ewok movies of the 1980s. Some would say I have a problem. They would be right.
But it is not my fault. Star Wars isn't just a movie franchise for me. Like many people my age, it is my childhood.
Although this is not me, it sure could have been. I even had that same hippie wannabe haircut... and huge smile when playing with my Star Wars guys.
I was 6 years old when Star Wars was released. At the time, it was the greatest thing I had ever seen. It remained the greatest thing I had ever seen until... boobs. (That isn't my fault either. I'm a guy. I can't help it.)
During that 22 year period (kidding... or am I?) the only thing I loved more than the movies were the toys. Luckily for me, I had a mother with OCD. Even luckier was the fact that she chose to obsess on making sure that I had every Star Wars toy ever released. (Don't worry she was also obsessed with giving to charity so she eventually taught me it was better to give than to receive).
As long as I live, I will never forget my 7th birthday. I am pretty sure it is the greatest birthday anyone in the history of time has ever had. Yeah I know Charlie Brown got to kick the football on one of his birthdays, somebody won the lottery on their birthday and a ton of people lost their virginity on their birthdays... but they were nothing compared to my birthday in 1978.
Why?
Here's why...
The 7 year old boy Holy Grail!
Yep. My OCD mom, went nuts and bought me every Star Wars toy in existence that year.
My 7th birthday is my most vivid childhood memory. I do remember one gift from when I was three or four. I distinctly remember receiving a pair of purple pants with smiley faces all over them. No I was not a girl. No I was not the Hulk. It was just that it was the 1970s... and parents can be assholes who try to dress their kids in the latest "hip" fashion even though it scars the child for life. I also remember getting a Mazinga Shogun Warrior when I was around five.
I would have put a picture of the purple smiley face pants here, but no pictures of those exist. Why would anyone want photographic evidence of their existence?
So that helped tide me over until the mother of all birthdays!
But I remember 1978 like it was yesterday!
I am pretty sure I spent more time playing with those toys when I was a child than the time I spent studying for all of my college classes put together. No. I am positive I spent more time with the toys (and it took me 10 years to get my under grad). Can you get a PHD in Star Wars toys? I better check The University of Phoenix to see if they will accept those credits.
1978 was only the start. By the time Return of the Jedi ended its theatrical run, I owned approximately 90% of all of theStar Wars toys produced.
The next logical question is, '"Do you still have them".
Unfortunately the answer is "no". One of the downsides of taking 10 years to get your under grad is that it costs a ton of money. I sold all of my toys in order to pay for college. Wait. Allow me to translate. I sold all of my toys to pay for the beer that I drank while I was ditching my college classes.
I had intended to write a little more... but I need to go play with my toys!
Thanks mom!
May the 4th be with you!
What was your favorite Star Wars toy?
All toy images from : http://www.12back.com/index.html