Our state senate recently passed a bill to make February 6 “Ronald Reagan Day.” I’m not surprised. We’re pretty big on holidays. From Christmas to Arbor Day to National Talk Like a Pirate Day, there’s a holiday for everything.

My favorite holiday happens to be yesterday. That’s right. May 4. Also known as (unofficial) National Star Wars Day.

Yes, I’m a geek. Actually, I’m that rare subspecies known as a “female geek.” From the Japanese anime Cowboy Bebop to the campy nineties adventures show “Xena: Warrior Princess,” I’ve watched them, quoted them, memorized the IMDB facts about them. And while my tastes have changed over the years, my greatest love will always be for a galaxy far, far away.

There’s something about “Star Wars” that captured my young imagination and refused to let go like no other franchise has. Maybe because it’s so much more than just a movie with great special effects (I’m looking at you, Avatar). It’s a movie about good and evil, corruption and redemption, fathers and sons. And lightsabers. I am still holding out for the day when science progresses far enough to build me a lightsaber.

Mainly it’s because it’s a movie where good guys wear white, bad guys wear black, and the biggest ethical question is whether or not Han was justified in shooting first.

Everything makes sense in “Star Wars.” As my childhood and teenage years were spent obsessing over it, “Star Wars” for me will always be linked to the time in my life when everything made sense.

While “Lost” and other “adult oriented” sci-fi shows are becoming more mainstream, the black and white morality of the PG rated “Star Wars” is still largely considered to be for kids, or at best a guilty pleasure for adults.

Why? Why is being a “Star Wars” fan weird? Why is my mom convinced my “Star Wars” shirts are the reason I don’t have a boyfriend? Why is it that when I ask the salespeople at K-mart whether they carry said shirts in adult sizes they give me “the look?”

I’m intimately acquainted with “the look.” It’s the look my sister gives me when she sees that once again I’ve decorated my Christmas tree with nothing but storm troopers and ewoks. The look my Bible Study gives me when it’s my turn to lead and my topic is “Fear of loss is the path to the Dark side.” The look my roommates give me when they catch me watching “Revenge of the Sith” with the sound muted because I’m reciting all the dialogue myself…and humming the music…and making lightsaber noises.

It’s the look that means, “Are you ever growing up?” To which I reply, “Probably not.” I’m having too much fun.

On the rare occasion I feel the need to cater to my inner fan without dealing with mainstream society, well, that’s what conventions are for.

As my friend Dan (affectionately known as “Danakin”) said while attending a recent con, “I’m surrounded by freaks and I’ve never felt so fucking normal.” That’s the beauty of conventions. No one’s weird because everyone’s weird.

I will admit there are some “Star Wars” fans that take things too far. Like the man who recently got thrown out of a supermarket for refusing to lower his hood because it was against the Jedi religion. I’m still trying to figure that logic out.

But guys like that are in the minority. Most fans just want to indulge in something they enjoy without having to defend themselves.

And everyone has some guilty pleasure. Maybe you spend way too much money on Elvis memorabilia. Maybe you spend all Saturday watching marathons of “19 Kids and Counting.” Maybe you too can’t resist making lightsaber noises every time you pick up a flashlight.

Ultimately, to me, that’s what (unofficial) National Star Wars Day is all about. It’s a day to find joy in the things “society” says adults have no reason to partake in.

So do it. Go on. I dare you. On May 4, embrace your inner child, shun maturity, and go have fun.

And remember: May the fourth be with you.

– Diane Zaida is a Journalism 271 student.