#365DaysOfWriting — Day 234

Carrie Fisher and George Michael

It’s been a bad year as it is. And to pile on the misery, two MORE of my childhood icons have passed on to the other side. Multiple obituaries and tributes have been written. I’d like to share just 2 childhood memories of mine, that define my love for them.

I first saw Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in A New Hope as a 9-year-old. I remember this being one of the earliest English movies I watched with a school friend (I think – my memory is slightly hazy, forgive me). When we realised Luke was actually her brother, my friend said “Sheee she kissed her brother!” To which I coolly replied, “So what, even I kiss my sisters. You don’t kiss your family or what?”

Sigh. The innocence of childhood. That’s why, although Carrie Fisher is much more than just Princess Leia, she will always be the Princess to me. I remember thinking that her hair was some sort of a helmet…

With George Michael, it was a completely different experience. I was slightly older, 11 I think, when I first heard Careless Whisper. I did not understand the words in the song, but at the end of the song, I remember smiling… with tears coming out of my eyes! It was the oddest feeling ever – I wasn’t crying, didn’t even feel like crying, but tears were flowing. And I had this stupid smile on my face. My older cousins saw this and I was subsequently introduced to WHAM! and all of his other great songs.

When I grew older and realised what that song meant, I thought – maybe I was happy at the melody, but sad at the lyrics? I don’t know why I had that double emotion, and I don’t think I’ll ever know.

That’s it for tonight. I hope they’re both happy now, wherever they are. Thank you for an enriching and enlightening childhood.

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