“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope…” These were the immortal words spoken by our beloved Princess Leia. Nobody can forget the feeling that they had the very first time that they watched Star Wars: A New Hope. We were introduced to unforgettable characters such as our hero Luke Skywalker, the handsome yet scruffy-looking nerf herder, Han Solo, his sidekick and wookie pal, Chewbacca, and the ever gorgeous and free spirited, Princess Leia Organa. These characters and films have always and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Today I am writing this blog because we are still mourning the loss of our beloved Princess and General, Carrie Fisher. It is one year ago today that she was called home. Carrie could not get away from being Leia. No matter what part she played or what she did in life, that role was always with her. It’s not an easy thing to deal with but Carrie finally embraced her destiny and told her co-star, Mark Hamill, “Look, I’m Princess Leia. You Are Luke. Get over it.” She seemed as feisty as her character. She was an accomplished author, actress, and was very open about her personal struggles with bi-polar disorder and her addictions. She was human just like everyone else. We always like to think that the people on screen or our favorites heroes in movies are invincible, but they are just like you and me.

It’s hard to believe that it has already been a year since Carrie left us. Her mother followed her but a day later. Debbie Reynolds was her mother. Reynolds told her son that she wanted to be with Carrie after Carrie passed away. They were estranged for quite some time, but ended up living on the same property and were closer than ever in the end. It is quite beautiful to see that Carrie’s daughter, Billie Lourd, is carrying on the Star Wars legacy. Lourd had the pleasure of appearing in The Force Awakens and one last time with her mother in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Her mother taught her that women are powerful and can do anything that a man can do. Carrie would tell her daughter that she never knew where Princess Leia ended, and Carrie Fisher began. It’s quite appropriate because you can really see the spunk and independence that both Carrie and her character shared. They say that every role that an actor takes on shows part of who you really are. I think it is spot on with Carrie and Leia.

We get to see General Leia Organa one last time in the newly released Star Wars: The Last Jedi. When I saw it for the first time, I got this overwhelming feeling of emotion. Every Star Wars fan feels it when they hear the opening credits music by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra. No matter what age, seeing the opening credits truly makes you feel like a kid again. When I saw Carrie in her first scene tears began to build up in my eyes. Princess Leia was the one heroine that I truly admired. Every girl wanted to command a room like Leia. She had a handsome brother and a love interest like no other in Harrison Ford. The chemistry that those three shared was unbelievable. They truly seemed like family. Episode 8 was enjoyable, and I think every Star Wars fan will love it.

I know this blog won’t mean much to some, but I felt that I should write a little something about what Carrie means to me and to many more. One year has flown by as all years tend to do. No other heroine will replace my favorite Princess. She truly was remarkable. My favorite Disney Princess was Jasmine from the movie Aladdin, but now I can say that my favorite Princess of all is finally a Disney Princess. Princess Leia’s legacy will live on. The Star Wars films will continue to touch generations to come. It gives you everything that you would want out of a film; romance, good and evil, magic, wonder, light, darkness, and the hope for a better tomorrow. We miss you, Carrie. Thank you for giving us someone that we can look up to and letting people know that it’s okay to talk about our struggles. Forever our Princess and forever in our hearts.

Carrie On Forever and May the Force be with you always...