Long-time readers of this blog will know that today is my older brother’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Dave!

My brother and I loved Star Wars as kids. I remember when Return of the Jedi came out, my parents thought the movie would be too scary for me (and they were right, for I was a fearful child who would cry at most things), so I visited my grandparents while they took my brother to the movie.

When they got back, I got all the details. My brother told me about Jabba the Hutt and the speeder bikes, while mom’s big takeaway from the experience was, “Han and Princess Leia kiss!”

Imagine hearing about Jabba the Hutt second-hand. My mind could barely handle it.

I don’t remember the first time I saw Return of the Jedi. Because this was before we had a VCR, I think my first time seeing it must have been on TV. Before cable and DVDs existed, the big networks would show movies from time to time, about a year after the film’s theatrical run. They would make a big event out of it. “Tonight, for the first time on television, it’s Return of the Jedi!” And they would fill it with commercials, so a two-hour movie would last (seemingly) nine hours. It was a struggle to stay awake. Corrupt, sinister deals had to be made to delay bedtime.

And if you missed it, you were screwed.

Imagine that level of stress on a six year old.

While I don’t remember the first time seeing it, I do remember going over the plot with my brother, who explained that Lando was in disguise and that the Emperor was Darth Vader’s boss. I didn’t even know Vader had a boss! I thought he was the boss. I was a stupid child.

So thanks, Dave. You’re a great older brother.

Today’s Lego item is…

A Candy Cane Ship!

This is probably meant to represent an A-Wing, but I’m classifying it as a Candy Cane Ship, because of the bright red and white bricks.

‘Tis the season and whatnot.

Stickles worshiped it, of course. His Bible must be 90,000 pages of deities.

Everything was fine and then Frisco just started to weep. He really misses Theresa. He mumbled something about skipping Christmas altogether, and then his bros had a bro meeting and bro’d out.

Day 16 Rating: 2.4 out fo 5 (Points added for being a Candy Cane Ship. Points deducted for being kinda…meh.)

Don’t give people something impersonal for the holidays, like gift cards and soap assortments. Give them something unique and special! Give them something they never knew existed — MAGIC PENCILS! You have two more days to order Power Pencils and Dan Signs by Christmas! If you get your order in before 8 p.m. Friday, you’ll get your treasures by Christmas! Head over to PowerPencils.com to order!