Can a Girl Love Star Wars?

I am not quite sure why but there are Storm Troopers at the Dodgers vs. Rockies game tonight. Watching baseball fans and kids take their pictures with these famous Star Wars characters I started to think about the geek reputation Star Wars fans have always held. I do have to admit that I love the original Star Wars movies but have generally kept it on the down low for fear of being that person every calls “nerd.”

Not long ago all of the teachers in our school district got together at the local high school to meet with others that teach our same grade level in neighboring schools. I generally tend to have a pretty bad attitude about these days, knowing I could be using my time in so many other ways. However, as I walked into the assigned classroom that day my attitude instantly changed.

The back wall of this high school teacher’s classroom was covered from top to bottom with Star Wars figurines! My heart skipped a few beats as I began to picture my favorite parts of the original three Star Wars movies. Now, knowing that loving Star Wars often renders one a geek, I decided to keep my mouth closed, turn my attention from the Star Wars masterpiece in front of me, and focus on what was happening in our third grade meeting. However, I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation behind me between two women that were talking about “men and their Star Wars” and “Science Fiction geeks.”

Later that day, feeling a bit geek-a-fied, I went home and thought back to the many times my brother and I watched the original Star Wars movies over and over. And even though we had seen them a million times, I remember the excitement I felt when they we re-released in theaters when I was in high school. I thought about when my family went to the MGM Studios’ Star Wars exhibit and simulation and how I walked away with a stuffed Ewok that I still have to this day.

I play the Star Wars theme song once in awhile for my third grade students and every time I hear it I think of “Long long ago…” scrolling down the television screen. I play the song on the piano, watch the movies when they are on TV (original movies only), and get excited when I see life-size cardboard cutouts of R2D2 and C3PO.

Since our district meeting I have been much more aware of when women around me make fun of Star Wars. A question still remains for me and I think it always will. Can a girl love Star Wars and still be cool? Perhaps one of these days I will muster up the courage to stand up and say “My name is Amber and I am a true Star Wars nerd!”

If you are willing to be geek-a-fied in the coolest way possible, definitely get the original Star Wars trilogy.