Too much force, not enough fun

Dear Rachel,

I decided not to celebrate May the Fourth. I grew up on “Star Wars,” but it’s just getting to be too much. More shows than I can keep up with. It used to be just one part of the toy aisle at Walmart, but now it’s the Mouse House demanding my money at every step. Do I let go of the thing I love or find a way to reclaim it as my own?

– Bum Kenobi

Dear General Grieving,

Ah, too much of a good thing. Or, just too much of a thing, good or otherwise. “Star Wars” used to be SPECIAL. We’d skip work and school for a new one. It was an EVENT. Now it’s like getting rich and buying the special candies every week so they stop being special. I’m guessing that’s what it’s like, at least.

– I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Rachel 

Dear Rachel,

What is with generations older than me (I’m not that young) and their weird passive communication? I see this with my parents and the parents of my friends. It’s like they’re all trying not to be a burden, but they end up burdening us with every little decision. Take my mother, I’ll say “I’ll be there to help on Saturday, just tell me what time,” and then she never tells me a time, but says she was waiting for me to tell her one. Does that make sense? What’s to be done?

– Talking to a Wall

Dear Bricked,

There’s literally nothing to be done. It’s like our parents finished raising us and promptly decided, collectively, to check out. But they aren’t going away. We have to do our best to support them, love them and convince them to move into a community for people like them instead of winding up with them in our guest bedrooms.

– Yours in solidarity, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

Is it just me or do we all have less time than ever? My coworkers and I are all commiserating over this. But not at the break room, like we used to! We don’t even have time for a donut, we have to talk in passing in the hall. I don’t have time for spring gardening like I always have. My coworker can’t find time to hike with his dog. My wife is in staff meetings all day. What’s happened?

– Time Suck

Dear Vacuum-Packed,

You’re exactly right, and I’m pretty sure I know exactly what’s happened to all our time: “Star Wars.” Used to be we had three movies, six hours and we could get on with our weekends. Now, that had turned into literal months of viewing. The Force “surrounds us and penetrates us,” alright.

– Clocked out, Rachel