Tonight, I’m watching The Force Awakens.
I’m watching it because an icon of pretty much my entire life has passed.
“To me, she’s royalty …”
Princess Leia was my definitive first crush, before I was old enough to even know what a crush was. In a sea of Barbies, Leia was a warrior and a leader. Strong. Independent. Capable in any situation. By the time of Episode VII, she’s a woman who has lost her parents, her home, her son to the Dark Side, and her love.
And still, she stands to lead the Resistance against the First Order. Still, Leia is that beacon of hope and that light of leadership.
Carrie Fisher brought a fierceness to the role that defined Leia. Smart, quick-witted, caring, the actor was the archetype that created one of the greatest female leads to ever grace the screen. Over the years, her characters ranged across the spectrum, but all seemed to have an inner strength in common (in the case of the Blues Brothers, inner strength tinged with more than a little crazy.)
She had the courage to not shy away from her personal demons, and in point of fact became a light for many who struggle with addictions and depressive conditions. Her willingness to be so frank about what tend to be taboo subjects surrounded by so much misunderstanding, misinformation, and straight up ignorance was inspiring, and her ability to do so with what became a trademarked sense of humor set her on a new level above.
To many, she was an inspiration.
To those of us who grew up with her as part of our cultural consciousness, she will always be royalty.
Thank you, Princess.
Rest in peace.
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