General Leia Organa. Image Still from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Like most people who love Star Wars, it’s hard for me to say exactly why. There’s the rich world (or galaxy, to be a bit more accurate) building, the terribly lovable prequels, and the message of hope above all things. There’s the rich fandom and vibrant extended universe.
And just as important as all those things, perhaps even more so, is that there’s a badass princess.
Not just a princess, by the way. A general. A rebel. A literal Force to be reckoned with.
You may have heard that we lost her today.
Carrie Fisher has joined the seemingly endless procession of Awesome Famous People Who Died In 2016. Someone pour a salt circle around Julie Andrews’ house.
In addition to being the princess of our hearts, Carrie was also an activist, a talented (and often uncredited) writer and script doctor, and an incredible dog mom. She’s the reason behind all of Paul Simon’s good songs. She was a bipolar addict in recovery, and she wanted you to know about it.
Our own General Organa made milkmaid braids cool forever, could compose a tweet entirely out of emoji symbols, and generally gave a grand total of no fucks about what anybody thought of her body, age, or slave bikini.
Also? She slept with Harrison Ford. The woman knew how to live.
In her 60 years on this planet, Carrie Fisher managed to capture the hearts of just about everybody she came in contact with. It’s difficult to separate Carrie from Princess Leia because she embodied everything the princess held near and dear so fully. If hope were a person, her name would be Carrie Fisher.
We loved her. She knew. May the Force be with her.
