Note 7

Qui-Gon Jinn,

Your comment about strangers becoming friends reminded me of a comment someone once made to me. I was working in Watto's shop, and several customers walked in. I attempted to talk with them, only they did not seem to appreciate it. It was puzzling, but these people told me that it was rude to talk to people that they did not know. I wondered to myself how a person was supposed to make friends if it is rude to talk to people you do not know. After all, everyone is a stranger to you before you get to know them. How would someone ever make friends if he or she did not welcome strangers?

You are welcome. It was the least I could do.

It pleases me that you enjoyed my cooking. I would imagine that food in your Jedi Temple would get old after a while. Do you have a cook there? This diner that your padawan's friend owns must be very refreshing.

I value the time I spend with you as well. After all, it is not every day that I get to meet a Jedi Knight. I am sure that you are wiser than you realize. You must have wisdom if you can hold my son's attention. He seems to eat it up.

I understand why you wished to repay me. If you insist on repaying me, that is fine. I will accept.

I am glad that you stopped here. You have brought so much happiness to Anakin. I have not seen him this excited for a long time.

Thank you for clearing up the Sebulba incident for me. Still, I would like to speak to Anakin about the matter. It could have been dangerous. It's nice to hear that he handled it so well, though. Thank you for your kind words.

Does Jar-Jar need water or anything in particular? This is a desert planet, and I am sure that he is not used to such surroundings. His life will not be threatened if he stays out here, will it?

And I feel that I need to clarify something. I talked to my husband, and my husband's father about this extensively, and I know a little history. I strongly do not believe that the force and God are the same thing. What I mean is, I think there is a clear distinction that should be made between God and the force. I believe that God is the Creator, a personal God, who loves us…and I could go on and on and on. The force, though I know of its presence in this galaxy, I do not believe is a god. You see, there is a distinction between Creator and the creation. I believe that the Force is part of creation, just as other forces are, such as gravity and every other force that exists. And I believe that God has allowed certain people…gifted them, with the ability to use this created Force…as a source of special power. If this is true, if it is a created thing from God, then when you speak of the will of the Force, I believe that God can make His Will known through this Force, but I believe it is dangerous to make no distinction between God and this power called the Force.

In fact, it is my understanding that this is the original difference between the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi started out believing in a real personal God, seeing the Force as special power available for their use, but never believing it to be God. The Sith refused to make a distinction between the two, and of course there were other differences. But I believe it was the drive for unlimited power, partially due to the refusal to draw a distinction between Creator and creation, that drove them to be what they eventually became.

Yes, I do know of the Sith. I think…..actually I know that Lowdun encountered one, but he doesn't like to talk about it much.

I have shared my thoughts with Anakin on this subject (though I didn't tell him about the Sith), and while I lived with my other two boys, I taught them the same thing, and my husband was in agreement, as was his father.

You have no idea how much it tore me up inside when Watto first mentioned testing Anakin for podracing. I was his mother, and I couldn't stop it from happening. I had stayed in contact with my husband, and he was about to fight Watto about it. Luckily, my husband calmed down. That would have only made matters worse.

Yes, Anakin does have genuine desire and enthusiasm. I think that our ability to do something can be tied to our belief in our ability to do something. Sometimes it takes encouragement from others, sometimes it takes a lot of mistakes before something can be done…but determination in doing something certainly helps a person when trying to do a particular task.

If the force is so strong with him, what can be done about it? We are slaves. I now wish more than anything that he could have a better life.

To think that a Queen has come here! Why didn't she come with you? Does she have anything to eat?

I hope that Anakin is careful. Sometimes he takes unnecessary risks during these pod races. It is sometimes very hard to watch him race.

But my son is nine years old. I thought that Jedi training began at birth. If it is so important that someone that strong with the Force is taught to use it, then what can be done about this? It has been very hard raising him sometimes, I think because of how strong the Force is with him. He has not been trained at all. Can someone his age be trained?

My husband loved me, and he still does. He promised that he would free us as soon as he could. People make mistakes, and it was very hard at first to accept this, but he actually felt that selling me was the best thing he could do at the time. The year Anakin was born was an especially hard year. The crops were bad, and there was barely enough to eat. My husband felt that our family would starve unless he sold me. It was hard…I couldn't even think of my husband for a couple years after the incident. However, we have kept a correspondence since he sold me, and he knows a little about what has been happening in my life. I am grateful for that.

I don't think he thought it would last this long, but he has been unable to find enough money to buy us back. I…I don't even want to tell Anakin. I don't think he's old enough to know the truth, and I don't know how he would handle it, and it might get his hopes up. Until something is certain, I do not want to mention it to him.

Oh? So you knew Lowdun? That is wonderful. You lived on the same wing as him at the Temple? He lives with my husband and my other two children on the other side of Mos Eisley….which is similar spaceport to Mos Espa. I'm sure he would be pleased to see an old temple-mate. Wait…thinking of it, I believe he mentioned your name once to me. I had forgotten until you said you knew him. Did you know his master, Frey Corta? Lowdun said he and his master had gone on a mission with you and your master once? Do you remember?

I understand. Yes, you have my permission to allow Anakin to race. It's hard for me to say, but I know that he has to race. He is so willing.

I noticed that you helped him with the pod. Thank you for the kindness you have shown us, and how you have treated him. He really looks up to you, Qui-Gon. I also saw you give him the power cell. Thank you.

There is one other thing that I ask…Anakin was very sick recently. He had a bad infection…it was a lung infection. It's hard for me to think of him racing so soon after being sick. I want to make sure that he is healthy enough to race…that his infection is not coming back or anything. I noticed that he had gotten a cut while working on the pod. Will you check his blood for infection? I don't want him to get any sort of infection. He just got over one, and an infection anywhere else might wear him down during the race. I have a needle and the supplies you would need to check. I don't have time to do it myself, so I would appreciate it if you would do it for me.

Thank you.

Shmi