give me arms to pray with instead of ones that hold too tightly;

[tiny_ninja]

Challenge #3: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

In your own space, tell us who, from one of your fandoms, would you most want to have dinner with (or tea, or a random afternoon visit), And why? This could be a creator, an actor, a costumer, a set designer, a director, a character, a composer, anybody! What would you talk about? What are you dying to know?


So I had to think on this one a bit. I have several writers I would love to have over - the ones who I have subscribed to, whose works I've read over and over again, just so we can chat about writing and fandom and our stories and you know, just hang. I would like to be able to hang with my writing group again at some point, when it's safe to do so.

But the big one, I think, would be Carrie Fisher.

She was supposed to attend Rhode Island Comic Con a few years before her death and she ended up having to cancel. I remember telling my partner that it would be so hard to wait in line with both him and our son (who was a toddler at the time), but I would do it for Carrie Fisher. As she didn't attend, at the time I always thought there would be another chance to meet her.

And then she passed away.

I'm sure everyone has a story about Princess Leia and what she meant to them as a character. For me, I remember being eight years old and watching The Empire Strikes Back on VHS (taped from TV, so part of the Hoth scenes is missing). There was this woman, not much bigger than me, standing in front of these pilots and taking charge and telling them what to do. She didn't have to listen to anyone. She led the rebellion and even when things went south, she still took charge.

And then, as I got older, the way Carrie spoke of her mental illness resonated with me. As someone who's struggled with anxiety all my life, I was determined to accept that this is just "the way I am" and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I was wrong. Carrie helped me see that. She also helped me see that it was okay to be just as I am, flaws and all, and to be proud of what made me unique.

I'm not going to say that I'm ever going to manage my anxiety 100 percent. I do know that I'll never get the chance to tell Carrie thank you face to face, but I like to think she knew the impact she had on the world. So, thanks Space Mom, the General. You inspired my generation and the ones who come after me, too. ♥

Comments

[perspi]

Oh, dear, RIGHT IN THE FEELS with this one. I'm with you -- I think she knows.

[tiny_ninja]

She definitely knows ♥ Also, I'm sorry this one made you emotional, but hopefully they're good feels!

[moongoddex]

Oh, I'm absolutely with you on this one. I adored Leia as a kid, and her frankness about mental illness really hit home as an adult.
Any time I grouch about having to take my meds now, I remember it's what Carrie would've wanted.
<3

[tiny_ninja]

Remember: take your meds, and live to flip off the world for another day. ♥ She inspired more people than she realized, and continues to do so even now.

[runicmagitek]

SPACE MOM IS BEST MOM 💕😭

While I never got into Star Wars as much as everyone else, I've always loved her frankness about her mental health. Seeing someone else with bipolar and being successful was such an inspiration. It definitely made me feel less alone that our rebel princess did it all and more while juggling her own shit 💕

Also, considering the influence Star Wars has had on the FF series, I like to think Leia and Celes would've gotten along famously 💕 so much love to you, bb

[tiny_ninja]

Space Mom really is the best mom ♥

Also, if you haven't yet, (and I know your TBR pile is huge), it's worth reading Wishful Drinking, which is one of her memoirs. It's a quick read, but an important one, especially as she came to terms with her mental illness.

ALSO.

ALSO. YOU. WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME.



NOW I GOTTA WRITE THIS. Now to decide which version of Leia it is: because I really feel like Celes and General Leia would have a lot to talk about.

[runicmagitek]

I think I have that one stashed on my TBR list (oh lord, all those books staring me down lol). I rarely enjoy reading nonfiction, let alone biographies and memoirs, but that's one I'd give a shot 🥰

*CACKLES FOREVER* YOU'RE WELCOME 😎 also, if you do write that, you know when my birthday is ;D just sayin'

[tiny_ninja]

I think I read it in like, a day and a half, so it's not a long one. ♥

Hell I'm probably gonna shoot ideas at you before your birthday, sorry not sorry

[isabellerecs]

Oh man, you've got me right in the feels. *sniff sniff* We all still miss our Space Mom. <3

[tiny_ninja]

I think we'll always miss our space mom, but that also means she's never forgotten ♥

[eurydice72]

I found your answer to the challenge in the comments, and though I have a DW account, I don't comment on anything over here, but I absolutely have to on this. I love this answer. For so many reasons. My issue is depression rather than anxiety, but everything you said about Carrie is what I love about her so much. What an excellent response to this challenge, and thank you for making me stop for a few minutes this evening to ruminate on the greatness of Carrie Fisher. :)

[tiny_ninja]

I'm very honored you commented! ♥ I'm glad that Carrie is someone who meant so much to so many of us, and I hope that her memory helps the hard days be a little easier for you. :) Thanks for stopping by!

[sjh2009]

Oh wow, just YES! I have anxiety myself and the fact that she was willing to bring her issues out into the open to bring awareness helped so many people.
How sad that you never got to meet her, she really was so inspirational and it was so refreshing to see a strong female character play a main part like Leila.
Hugs 🤗

[tiny_ninja]

The good thing is that I've always felt like she lives on, and in her portrayal of Leia (both young and old), she's given all of us a role model for future generations. ♥

*hugs to you as well!*

[sjh2009]

Oh definitely, yes. She's such an iconic figure.

[tsuki_no_bara]

oh, carrie. right in the feels. (by which i mean, this is lovely and heartfelt and it's amazing how many people carrie touched not because she was leia - or not just because she was leia - but because she was herself.)

[tiny_ninja]

So many feels. ♥ I think we can all learn to be a little more true to ourselves by following Carrie's example.

[bemused_writer]

This is so touching. Thank you for sharing.

[tiny_ninja]

Thank you! ♥

[shipperslist]

She passed way too early but I'm so damn glad the younger generation got to see her transform from the scantily clad princess to General. 💜

[tiny_ninja]

My daughter is four and I hope someday she looks up to Carrie's portrayal of Leia as much as I did. ♥

[littlelostcat]

Carrie was and is and will always be an icon. She was such a powerful figure to so many of us growing up. She'd be an amazing person to have coffee or tea with

[tiny_ninja]

Right?? Imagine the stories she would tell! ♥

[silveradept]

Carrie Fisher is absolutely Space Mom to so many of us, both for what she did on screen and off of it. We are made less because she's not here with us any more.

[tiny_ninja]

She'll always be General Space Mom to me. ♥ I think that, if we can live on in the spirit of what she embodied, then, to quote The Last Jedi, "No one's ever really gone."