Mallory Conlon is a co-host of Far Far Away Radio a podcast that features Star Wars news as well as discussion/opinions. I absolutely recommend listening to this podcast if you haven’t had a chance, it is wonderful! You can find both the podcast and their blog at www.farfarawayradio.com. Mallory tweets from @malloryconlon.
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As it turns out, my introduction to Star Wars was more an instance of chance as opposed to something given to me at a young age. My parents weren’t, aren’t, and most likely never will be Star Wars fans, and, between the ages 8 and 13, I was happily lost in my Harry Potter obsession. Though I’d heard of Star Wars before, it was really never more than a passing glance at a commercial or a toy magazine. So, my real Star Wars story unexpectedly began at age 13, at my grandma’s house…
While at my grandma’s house, my two young cousins and I decided to turn on Cartoon Network for no real reason…or at least for a reason so small I can’t remember it now. This was long before the Guide button on the remote, and long before my patience developed to watch the TV Guide channel, so there was no telling what we’d find. Quite by chance, or the will of the Force, one of the original Star Wars: The Clone Wars shorts was playing on Cartoon Network. I was awestruck within seconds, and the three of us sat silently, watching, and not believing what we were seeing. Swords of light? Aliens? Explosions? What was this madness called the Force? I needed to know. It didn’t take long for me to be hooked after these 8 minutes of awe passed, 8 minutes of my life that I’ll likely never forget.
Christmas quickly came a few months after this. I asked (read: begged) my parents to get me the Original Trilogy box set, and they obliged, of course. The following May, I got my first experience seeing Star Wars in a movie theater. When Revenge of the Sith came out, I saw it four times–I would have seen it more had I not been a 13-year-old with no money… Then, within the next year, one of my friends let me borrow his copy of Knights of the Old Republic I and II for Xbox, which sparked my true obsession with Star Wars and The Old Republic era. After that, the rest is truly history.
Fast forward 10 years, and here I am. I joined Twitter just under a year ago so I could follow the news of Episode VII more closely. Luckily, I had a moment of bravery that gave me this once-in-a-lifetime chance to share my love of Star Wars with some of the most thoughtful, kind, and hilarious people, all during one of the most exciting times to be a fan. If you’re interested, I wrote a bit on my more recent experiences with the Star Wars fandom on the Far Far Away Radio blog: http://farfarawayradio.com/2014/08/07/welcome-online-fandom/.
You can catch me and some of my best Star Wars friends on Far Far Away Radio every week (www.farfarawayradio.com), and you can also keep up with my random nerdiness on Twitter @malloryconlon!
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If you are reading this you have my deepest appreciation. I am so full of joy for this community as we enter a new part of our fandom. I grow more anxious every day for lights dimming with hushed anticipation and a thunderous cheer when ” A long time ago in a galaxy far far away” comes up! It has been a decade since we have experienced that! Please if you feel like sharing your story or know someone who would, send stories to starwarsgenesis@yahoo.com. Spread the Word!
May The Force be With you
-Cody Lee-
Star Wars Genesis 