From the Roundhouse to the Death Star

Today I cleared off the coffee table. Today, for the first time in three years, the table is no longer serving as an outpost of Tidmouth Sheds.

Today I put away all the Thomas the Tank Engine toys.

And I heard not one word of protest.

My newly minted six-year-old was too busy playing with all his new Star Wars toys. Now, instead of Thomas and Percy and Gordon and Henry, all I hear about is Luke and Annakin and Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. He's not about to let the fact that he hasn't seen a frame of any Star Wars movies get in his way.

An era has passed. We've traded the cheerful exploits of steam engines for the life-and-death light saber battles of Jedi knights.

Will the Force be with us always?