Quite a while ago in a galaxy not all that far from me…

I was invited to meet an individual for lunch one chilly, Sunday afternoon during the holiday season. We had been internet friends for a little while, meeting through the now defunct starwars.com blogs, and through our correspondence, we learned we lived relatively close to each other. In different states, mind you, but certainly within driving distance. I agreed to the luncheon meeting — amid choruses of “but you said a person should never meet (face to face) anyone they meet on the internet!” resounding from my (at the time) two young daughters. Oh, I was setting such a fine example. Do as I say, not as I do.

As best I could, I explained to my girls that Bethany and I had gotten to know each other pretty well, and I felt quite confident that she was as kind and down-to-earth in person as she appeared in emails and letters. I also explained — or tried to, I should say — that my years of experience as a skeptical newspaper reporter should count for something. No stranger was I to meeting complete strangers, and here I was meeting some I “knew” for a little while. “Besides, girls,” I added, “I was a Marine, and I still remember a thing or two when it comes to self-defense.”

“We’re meeting in a very public place so I really don’t think I have anything to worry about,” I continued. “And to be perfectly honest, the same concerns go for Bethany. At this point, she really has only an idea of what a nice person I am.”

That was almost seven years ago. Many subsequent get-togethers later, we’re still good friends. Into the fold we have welcomed two more like-minded (as in we’re all Star Wars fans) friends who live within easy driving distance of each other, and we’ve been friends for many a year. 🙂 Star Wars was the common denominator that brought us together, but it is not the glue that keeps us together. We genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and while we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like, we manage to stay in touch. 🙂 For the first time in more than one year, Erika, Lisa, Bethany and I were able to see each other this past Sunday. We saw “Ender’s Game” (Star Wars Connection 😉 ), and then had dinner at our favorite restaurant — at which we celebrated Lisa’s birthday (which is today, by the way! 🙂 ).

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have much for which to be thankful. My family tops the list, and coming in a close second are my friends. 🙂 I might categorize my pals into groups (there are my college friends, my Star Wars friends, my high school friends … you get the idea), and I hold all of them near and dear to my heart. My Star Wars friends are very special to me. Star Wars adds a special dimension to our lives, and we don’t have to explain it. We get it. We understand. We’re all geeks; we don’t apologize for it; we are accepted for who we are. That is an exceptional commodity. I am so very lucky — and thankful — Bethany, Erika and Lisa came into my life. Please know I carry your friendship in my heart wherever I go; firmly ensconced there will it forever be. (Over the years, my cadre of Star Wars friends has grown — and I treasure each of those friendships. However, this is where it all started, and it bears special note to pay homage to the beginning.)

If I’m going to give credit where credit is due for all these wonderful friendships, I really should say THANK YOU to The Maker himself — George Lucas. His creation of “Star Wars” and getting it to the silver screen was at the root of all of us meeting and forging friendships. Thank you, GL!

Thank you, Bethany, for taking a chance all those years ago to reach out to me, to make a virtual stranger a real friend.

Thank you, Erika and Lisa, for jumping on the bandwagon to round out our quartet. (Happy Birthday, Lisa! 🙂 )

Thank you, all my Star Wars friends, for being a special part of my life all these years. You mean very much to me.

To those of you I have yet to meet … yet are kind enough to stop by to read my musings … thank you for taking the time to do so. I hope we have the chance to meet one day.

(Thank you for putting up with my very personal message here. We will return to our regular, scheduled blogging when next we meet. Which will be Dec. 1, if you’re keeping track. 😉 )

MTFBWY, and Happy Thanksgiving, All!