STAR WARS | May 25–Movie Opened

Star Wars–Foes and Friends.

This day in 1977, the first Star Wars movie opened. It received seven Oscars and grossed $800 million worldwide.

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) recruited Wookiee Chewbacca and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and the robots C3PO and R2D2, on his mission to rescue the kidnapped Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from an Evil Empire governed by Darth Vader.

The film made stars out of its lead actors, and was followed by two big-screen sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Return of the Jedi (1983), featuring much of the original cast and continuing to receive critical and commercial success.

Han Solo's sidekick Chewbacca has seen recent popularity.

HERO DOG | Hachikō–Wookiee?

Chewbacca.

Our puppy Hachikō's name means "little eight" in Japanese.

It was the name of the chūken (loyal-heart) dog that returned faithfully to Shibuya Station every day for more than nine years.

He was looking for his master, famed Tokyo University professor Hidesaburō Ueno, who had died of a heart attack.

You will see me walking Hachikō on 22nd and 21st Streets between 8th and 9th Avenues in New York.

We are thinking that our Hachikō, based on similarities of appearance and temperament, is part Wookiee.

He may grow up to be a hero, like Chewbacca, the loyal Star Wars warrior.

So now we wonder:

Hachikō Moving to Warrior 2 Position.

Should we have his DNA tested? Apparently one can get a dog's DNA for $75. Do DNA tests track Wookiee ancestors? Do we have to locate a specialist on the planet Kashyyyk? Is there a Mormon in the house?

We are overwhelmed with the implications if Hachiko really is part Wookiee.

Should we send him to wherever Chewbacca trained for his spaceship navigation and security job with Han Solo?

Maybe, on reflection, we don't want to know.