The Power of Play
As we grow up, many of us tend to forget to play. It’s not the grownup thing to do, after all. The exception, perhaps, would be those who discover at a young age that not only are they talented in the arts, but they also believe in those abilities.
I was not one of those young people. (don’t worry, it gets better)
On and off throughout my life, the joy of play ebbed and flowed. It never really “stuck” until my late forties. Now, in my sixties (and being sort of retired) it’s become a major part of my life.
Which brings me to the next installment of our second “voyage” on Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser, the Halcyon. (hal-see-on)
Looking back on how I felt when we drove up to the Starcruiser and saw our friends M & J. The minute I spotted J I waved at her like a kid. I was ready to play and so happy to see her.
We were quite a crew: Melton, Jyl, Esk Forn, and Llama. Those were our names for the “cruise.” Dressed in low-key costumes, wearing name tags we had ordered that had one line with our name that was stylized to resemble Aurebesh and a second line actually in Aurebesh, we were ready to play in a “galaxy far, far away”
Aurebesh is the “official” alphabet of the Star Wars universe.
We looked like a team. In the course of the 2-night stay, we turned into a team. We were (in our eyes, especially) a great team!
There we were grandparents all, standing in line like kids ready to be let loose in a playground.
We chatted while we waited in line. We made plans. Melton created a 4-way text group so that if one of us came across something special, we could alert the rest of “the team.” There was a specific activity that he really wanted to make happen. It’s a rare occurrence where a “passenger” is able to use the Force to move rocks. We even had a code for it “CS.” It stood for “Climate Simulator,” a unique room in the Halcyon filled with beautiful plants and special rocks.
Fast Forward to later that evening.
There I was, quietly sipping my seltzer in the Sublight Lounge, tired, but happy. I was watching folks drifting in and out of the dimly, but oh so coolly, lit room while others played Holo-Sabacc.
Yes, that’s a card game where all the playing cards are holograms and no one else at the table can see them.
Where was I? Oh yes. I noticed a text from Melton and another from Jill. They each wrote: Cs. My fog brain didn’t register that they were giving the signal! That small “s” almost did me in. Luckily, my husband (Esk Forn) called me. “We’re in the Climate Simulator. You need to come down here.”
I took one last sip, put the glass down, and sauntered out of the lounge like someone that didn’t really have a destination in mind.
But, oh, I certainly did.
Still “in character,” I stepped into the Climate Simulator and came face to face with a pair of Stormtroopers. Forget that this wasn’t “real.” Finding myself face to face with a pair of Stormtroopers made all the internal Llama alarms go off.
I played it cool.
The Saja invited me to come in and stack some rocks. So, without acknowledging my “team” in there, I started some nonchalant rock-stacking.
Within moments, the Stormtroopers left. The Saja let out a deep breath and in a shaky voice said she was so nervous. Stormtroopers scare her. I told her me too but assured her (like any good Llama would) that they were gone and she could relax.
The next is a blur. My husband said something, she said something and the next thing I knew we were deep in a conversation where my husband (in character) was explaining that he had a connection to the Force!
I was shocked! “Husband?” I (stage) whispered in disbelief.
Then he turned the conversation to me, saying that he was sure I had a deeper connection to the Force if only there was a way to experience it.
Uh oh, I thought. I’d been found out.
I stood there, wide-eyed as my character took in the enormity of what he was saying.
Remember, I was still in character.
The Saja then started to ask me questions, earnest and concerned and eager to help me find my connection to the Force. As we spoke, she moved me to a different section of the rocks. I passed Jyl along the way and tapped her arm so she wouldn’t miss what was coming.
From that moment on, there might as well not have been anyone else in the room. It was just me and my Saja. She asked questions, I answered. She asked me to stack more rocks. I stacked. Then she had me focus on those rocks as she placed a few others nearby.
I focused.
The rock at the top of my pile wobbled.
She told me to try harder.
The pile started to wobble.
She coached me to keep focusing and my pile of rocks tumbled and other rocks rolled.
She had tears in her eyes.
I didn’t. (I’m lying)
I told her about my days as a Padawan, studying under Master Yoda. I explained that I was hidden along with my friend, Grogu, by the Librarian and we were both sent off in different directions to keep us safe during Order 66.
The second line on my name tag reads Librarian in Aurebesh.
I don’t remember much after that. My husband caught some of it on video, but there was too much noise to hear either me or the Saja speaking. That’s okay, though.
I know.
And I’ll remember forever the day that “me and my three friends” played Star Wars and I used the Force.
May the Force (and the joy of play) Be With You
Llama
One Crafty Llama 
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