In the past week, the world has lost two familiar faces: Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds. The world was already shaken by the death of Fisher when the news came out that her mother had followed her, her last words reportedly being, "I want to be with Carrie."
Regardless of age, both strong women had an impact on the lives of every person they knew or who watched their movies, and losing them hurts everybody. They were more than celebrities—they were part of our family.
Debbie Reynolds is an icon. "Singin' in the Rain," arguably her most popular movie, is one that is impossible to not enjoy. For the younger generation, however, she is most known for her role in "Halloweentown," a movie that will be loved for years to come. She and Carrie had a relationship that should be envied by all mothers and daughters. They even lived next door to one another, Carrie frequently boasting that she and her mother got to see each other almost every day. Their love for each other and the causes that they cared about will live on, carrying their legacy.
Carrie Fisher is best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchise. She was not a standard princess by any means, but rather a feminist icon who all women, in some way, envy. Her character and herself alike were both tenacious, independent, headstrong women who fought for what they believed in. Fisher was an advocator for mental heath, and was open and honest about her own struggles with addiction and bipolar disorder. She brought attention to these issues in a classy, well-mannered way that made people begin to pay attention. Fisher and the characters she portrayed continue to influence the generation of young women. Most notably, a commercial promoting "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" portrayed a young girl answering why Leia doesn't just let the boys rescue her. The little girl, wearing her own Princess Leia buns, simply replies, "Because she is a modern empowered woman, unfettered by the antiquated gender roles of a bygone era."
It is extremely difficult to use words to describe Carrie and the lasting impact that she will have on all of us. She will be remembered in the fondest way, and our hearts will ache the next time we watch one of her movies. We did not all know her personally, but we feel that, in a way, when she let us into her world, we did. Losing Carrie is like losing a dear friend, and we will treasure the time that we did get to spend on this planet with her. We'll get to see her soon, in a galaxy far, far away.
May the Force be with you.
