One year ago today, Carrie Fisher passed away.
I want to spend today reflecting on Carrie, even though as the day approached I knew it would be tough emotionally. I remember the moment I read the news online, and couldn’t hold back the tears. Even now, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the sadness I felt that day, and still feel.
Even though I can’t say I knew her, I was fortunate enough to meet Carrie several times. One particularly memorable time, I had been running late from a convention costume competition, and had to run to our photo-op session with Carrie. Of course fate would align that day – I had entered the competition in my Princess Leia costume (and had won 1st place in my category), and running late meant we were last in line. When it was our turn to get a photo, I was grinning so much my face hurt. Of course Carrie noticed my costume, and she stopped to talk to me about it, giving me a big hug. It meant so much to be able to share how much Leia meant to me, with Carrie herself. I hadn’t intended to wear my costume to the photo shoot (my Leia t-shirt I had picked out to wear was of course lying on the bed back in our hotel room), but it ended up giving me one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
So today I am celebrating Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia in the same way I love to celebrate Star Wars – with fashion. What we wear is an expression of who we are – so wearing Princess Leia fashion is my way of celebrating the way Princess Leia and Carrie Fisher influenced who I am.
Farewell Carrie, thank you for being my Princess.
