Carrie Fisher passed away yesterday, December 27, 2016, at the young age of 60 years old. Fisher suffered a heart attack on Friday while on an airline flight. She was rushed to the hospital at that time.
I was shaken when I heard about Carrie Fisher’s heart attack on Friday. 2016 had seen the end of so many stars and musicians that I admired. Fear struck my heart and childhood memories. Would Carrie Fisher be taken from us early? Hope resonated as the hospital stabilized her condition.
On Tuesday, I prepared to take my kids to the movies to see Rogue One. The news of Fisher’s death came across the news. I was demoralized at the news of her death. I shared the sad news with my family. We were all shaken by her passing. My seven-year-old son started crying. Even my son knew the world would not be as bright without Carrie Fisher and her character of Princess (or General) Leia.
Star Wars was my first introduction to Carrie Fisher. She portrayed Princess Leia in the epic movie series that shaped my childhood.
Fisher’s character of Princess Leia was like no other female science fiction character before her. She was tough as nails. She stood up to her oppressors and called them out. When she was rescued, it was Leia who figured out how to get out of the Prison block and off of the Death Star. She had witty banter that only the male heroes had prior.
When it came to fighting, Leia more than held her own. She was the best shot out of the ragtag group of heroes. She took down more stormtroopers than any of the boys. She was the real hero of Star Wars (A New Hope).
Fisher and Princess Leia both became strong female role models. She was outspoken about wage inequality in Hollywood. She was the symbol of a strong female for my generation.
Fisher’s awesomeness goes way past her role as Princess Leia. Fisher fought hard in her battle against drug addiction. She dealt with the mental health issue of BiPolar Disorder. She became an outspoken mental health
advocate.
In later life, Fisher became known for her blunt humor. She didn’t hold back. She was unapologetic about who she was. Below is an excerpt from Fisher’s book, Wishful Drinking, that demonstrates her humor.
George comes up to me the first day of filming and he takes one look at the dress and says, “You can’t wear a bra under that dress.”
So, I say, “Okay, I’ll bite. Why?”
And he says, “Because … there’s no underwear in space.”
I promise you this is true, and he says it with such conviction too! Like he had been to space and looked around and didn’t see any bras or panties or briefs.
Lucas, she continues, eventually expanded on the idea (though it remains unclear why, if there’s no underwear in space, Leia only wears underwear when she’s on Tatooine, where she’s seen in the infamous “Slave Leia” gold bikini).
What happens is you go to space and you become weightless. So far so good, right? But then your body expands??? But your bra doesn’t — so you get strangled by your own bra.Lucas’s justification gave Fisher her own gleeful glorious idea, and the rest was history.
Now I think that this would make for a fantastic obit — so I tell my younger friends that no matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra.
— Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Rest In Peace Carrie Fisher. May your soul be at Rest.
