“I have to tell you something.” The excitement in his voice told me I needed to pay attention to what he was about to say. “My son, who’s seven years old, watched Star Wars for the first time this past weekend!” I smiled. He continued his story, “I remember seeing it for the first time. I was his age. And I still, to this day, remember my excitement!”

               “That’s fantastic!” I replied. I, too, knew what that excitement felt like. I was six when I saw it for the first time. And I was standing in a line that wrapped around the block of downtown Hollywood. It was raining, a warm rain. That was different for me, having grown up in Seattle’s wet weather. This was the week Star Wars opened in theatres across the nation. I didn’t know what Star Wars was, and Dad? Dad couldn’t explain it to me either. All he said was, “Trust me.” Little did I know that Indiana Jones would echo those words four years later.

               I’m always excited to hear someone who enjoys the story of Star Wars. The stories of Luke, Leia, Han, Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2, and C3PO are irreplaceable in your childhood innocence. And if you’re lucky enough to experience it as a kid? Then you’ll never lose that magic of the story.

               “I’m excited for him!” My jubilation bordered on hysterics. I love hearing that some kiddo loved the story I loved so long ago! “So,” I continued, lowering my voice, “want to tell him something that will totally blow his mind?”

               “What’s that,” he asked me.

               “Tell him you are friends with the son of a visual effects editor who worked on Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

               The color drained from his face. “What did you say?” he asked. “Are you telling me that your Dad worked on Star Wars?”

               I didn’t say a word; I just nodded. “Go to IMDB. Type in Joe Class.”

               “Hold on. What? Type your name?”

               “Yeah. Just type in my name.” I waited for him to do it. “See? Right there. Assistant Visual Effects Editor, Return of the Jedi. Same for Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

               “Dude! I didn’t know that!”

               “I thought I told you. I grew up watching all the blockbuster movies.”

               “No! I bet you have some stories.”

               “Yeah. I got a couple,” I said, smiling. “Like seeing my Dad’s name in Jedi for the first time.”

               “You missed that?”

               “Yeah. None of my family saw it during the cast and crew screening.”

               “I gotta hear this story!”

               “Next time we get together, I’ll tell you about it.”