Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, indeed.

About a week or so ago I dug through some boxes in my basement and found all my Star Wars action figures from the 1970s. My son Paavo has been really into Star Wars lately (although he hasn't seen any of the films...I told him he has to wait 'til he's six), so I sat him down in our family room and ceremoniously bestowed all my Star Wars toys upon him.

The delight on his face was indescribable. Ever since then, Paavo has been living out a Lucasian fantasy existence, clashing invisible lightsabers, jumping off couches with imaginary laser blasters, and talking incessantly about Chewbacca, Obi-Wan, Jawas, and his favorite character Darth Vader.

I'm vacationing with the kids up here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula this week, and Paavo has been able to continue his Star Wars adventures with even more toys. At my in-laws' house, Paavo's Grandma searched the garage and found my brother-in-law's vintage Star Wars toys, allowing Paavo to use the Hoth ice planet playset, a ton of action figures, an X Wing Fighter ship, and even some modern Star Wars lego sets.

Then upon arriving at my parents house, the Star Wars play continued. This morning Paavo spent literally THREE HOURS sitting at the kitchen table with a blank sketch pad and crayons, drawing detailed pictures: R2D2 fighting Boba Fett, Princess Leia in her forest battle outfit, Obi-Wan jumping in the air with lightsaber.

I remember with exact detail when Star Wars came out in 1977. I was six years old, and my parents took me to see it in the theater. My first action figure was Chewbacca, purchased at the Ishpeming JC Penney store. That same toy is now in Paavo's possession, 30 years later.

I left the kids with their Grandparents and Jedi, while I drove here to Houghton this afternoon. I'll be hanging out at my cousin Bruce's house, and playing a show with him here tomorrow at the Thirsty Fish Pub. I was born across the river from here in Hancock, MI, and my parents lived with me for my first year here in Houghton, just up the hill from where I sit at the Cyberia Cafe. Sometimes I wonder what my life would've been like had I stayed in Houghton for my childhood, and not moved to Ishpeming at age 1. This is a beautiful town.