As The Force Awakens

01 Dec As The Force Awakens

I remember seeing the first Star Wars movie in the theater with my grandfather. Like everyone else, I was captivated. And so began my love of Star Wars and my toy collection; C3-PO , Luke Skywalker and the X Wing Fighter, to name a few. I have vivid memories about they looked like, the features they offered, how they felt in my hands (I have always been kinesthetic) and playing…endlessly. Hindsight: I really should’ve kept those toys.

Over the years I followed along with the saga (at least for a few more movies) but somewhere along the way, I lost track of where I lost track. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand, and even have a tendency to get caught up in the hype of the soon-coming movie. Just watching the trailer and seeing some of the movie stills (including the posters and some of the awesome artwork) gets me really excited about the movie; namely, the new female protagonist Rey and her droid sidekick BB-8 (swoon). I’m not going to lie, these days I’m drawn to any and every story that features an independent young girl embarking on a journey of discovery. Having two daughters that are growing up before my eyes (one of which just embarked on her own journey to college across the country) surely sparks my intrigue. I can’t get enough of the life-affirming adventures of the girls that inspire me, like my own girls do. I don’t know much about Rey yet (none of us really do, do we?) but something tells me I’m going to like her. A lot. And I’m thinking my girls will too. Doing a little poking around online I found this quote on The Hollywood Reporter from Daisy Ridley on her character Rey, “She’s not a superhero. She’s a normal girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, so it’s very relatable. It’s an emotional story about a girl on a journey, but the story is a lot more than that.” Does that give anyone else chills? Oh, and don’t get me started on the adorable BB-8. Considering R2-D2 was my favorite character in the early Star Wars movies, I guess you could say, I already have an affinity for curiously loveable droids.

Although the movie doesn’t come out until nearly Christmas (and I’m guessing I won’t even see it until after the new year) it goes without saying that Star Wars toys are going to be the “it” toys of the holiday. I’m thinking that nabbing some of these items now (before the movie release) might be the best bet in ensuring you’ve got the Force with you this season. That said, I’ve shared a few of the Rey toys, clothing & accessories for the awesome adventurer on your list over at Disney Sisters.

I don’t know any more about Rey than anyone else does at this point, but I’ve got a good feeling about her. Smart, strong, steadfast, and a little bit scrappy? On an epic adventure? Sign me up!