Last night we watched "The Empire Strikes Back" in the comfort of our living room. Well, the first part of it, anyway, as full-length features are viewed in installments in our house due to early bedtimes and the necessity for stories.

Shortly after the long-ago-in-a-galaxy opening, my brain took a bit of a wander down memory lane.

It was hot in Sacramento the day the movie opened, but we came to the very long line for the first showing prepared with cool drinks, chairs and sunscreen. My sister-in-law was there, too, and I'd kept my kids, then about 9 and 7, out of school for the day, as this was to be a special occasion ... we'd been waiting a long time for this film to come along and fill in the blanks left by the first episode. (Actually, the fourth episode, but way back then no one really counted on ever seeing I, II and III.)

We certainly weren't disappointed! I can still hear the collective gasp from the hundred plus people crowded into the biggest venue in the multiplex when Darth Vader uttered, "I am your father!" and shocked us all down to our socks.

The kids who sat with me that day are now older than I was then at 37 and 35, my sister-in-law has passed away, and Mark Hamil is nowhere to be seen. "The Empire Strikes Back", however, is still exactly as it was.

I'd not seen the the movie in years, but I do still love it, and I'm so happy to now be sharing the experience with Sam. This was his first experience with anything "Star Wars", and so far it seems to be a hit ... and he hasn't even seen Yoda yet.

How much we pass on to our children ... from manners and wisdom, to habits and movies ... and how I love having the opportunity to do it all again!

This morning, I watched as Sam set up his toy computer at my usual composing spot on the veranda. He wasn't t writing a blog or a book, but he sure did a good job of looking like me while he 'worked'.