I’ll be turning 57 next year. When the first Star Wars picture came out I was 16. Many people who were old enough when that movie was in the theaters watched it and were more than entertained by the movie, we were inspired. If you relate, this is for you.

Identifying with Luke Skywalker, perhaps we got encouragement to widen our horizons, explore the big wide world and seek our destiny.

Identifying with Han Solo, perhaps we got a message about finding the hero inside of our cynical exterior, stepping up to be a force for good when needed.

Identifying with Leia Organa, we saw an example of bravery in the face of peril, and persevering even when it seemed like evil was winning, watching everything we had ever loved be destroyed.

Identifying with Obi-Wan Kenobi, we saw the life of an older man who, chastened by his earlier mistakes, had devoted his life to trying to set them right.

I realize that plenty of people were entertained by the prequels, but for me, I could not find a connection with the characters or the plot. With each one of them I left the theater not only disappointed in the filmmaking, but with my experience of the original movie now tainted and also wondering if somehow I had lost my ability to be moved by a silly space opera.

Having been so disappointed by those films, I admit to dragging my feet about seeing the new one.

However, my mother’s husband Lt. Cdr. Alex Quartly (Ret.) saw an entertainment news blurb on TV about the two-projector 3-D system at The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, and offered to pay my way as a Xmas gift. So just as Luke did, I accepted the counsel of an older veteran, and made plans to see it at the Grand Lake.

I loved it. Sure it’s not “perfect,” but if I am to examine the original with a critical eye, neither was the first one.

This time I loved the new characters, reconnected with the older ones, and again, over 40 years and a lot of living later, took away a message, which this time was:

You’re not done yet.