Today has been a very sad day for the Star Wars fandom. We lost our Princess Leia, actress Carrie Fisher today at the age of 60. She was not just known as Leia in Star Wars, but also as an advocate for mental illness awareness.
When Holly and I where children and there came a thunderstorm, we would set up a blanket fort and sit underneath and watch the Star Wars movies while mom worked away at her desk. After some time of hearing us laughing and screaming in delight, she would come out and watch the movies with us. She would always tell us that the princess was her favorite character. One year I asked her why? She said because this princes did not need a man to save her. She was going to save herself. After everything she had gone through she was still as strong as ever.
When Holly and I where children and there came a thunderstorm, we would set up a blanket fort and sit underneath and watch the Star Wars movies while mom worked away at her desk. After some time of hearing us laughing and screaming in delight, she would come out and watch the movies with us. She would always tell us that the princess was her favorite character. One year I asked her why? She said because this princes did not need a man to save her. She was going to save herself. After everything she had gone through she was still as strong as ever.
I remember meeting Carrie almost two years ago at Comic-Con and how excited I was to finally meet one of my idols. I had bought the autograph voucher and decided to stay in line while my friend went off and did her own thing at the venue. I was the youngest girl in the line that stretched for what seemed like a mile. In the backpack that I had brought with me to the event was one of moms most treasured movie sets. It was the VHS Trilogy set that my dad had bought her one year for Christmas. I knew what I was going to do with it. I had to get it signed by Carrie for Mom for her Mother's Day gift. I knew it was going to be something that my mom would treasure forever because like me, Princess Leia was also her Idol. I stood in line for a total of 3 hours and never once was discouraged. One way or another, I was going to get her autograph for my Mama. When it was finally my turn to meet her, I almost stood frozen. I was so nervous to meet the lady who stood for so many things. I finally got up the nerve and stood in front of her and just gazed. First thing out of my mouth was, "you were the perfect woman to play Princess Leia". She smiled and then said, "anybody can be a princess, even a cute girl like you". Instantly my heart and smile beamed with pride. She then said that she hadn't seen a VHS set for many years and held it and studied it carefully. I then told her that it belongs to my mom and that she was in a nursing home. She then gave me a sad smile, the same one I had seen many people give me once I told them about my mom. But the thing that resonated with me is what she said after "may the force be with her" she whispered to me as she put the glitter on my face as I had seen her do to other fans before me. I said my thank yous and moved on clutching the series that had given me so many of my childhood memories.
Every girl wanted to be Princess Leia. A princess, and a badass. Carrie Fisher did all of these things well, and now that she's no longer here, May The Force Be With Her.
