Last week, I had the opportunity to spend an exquisite day at a spa (it was one of my birthday presents from my very dear friend amidalooine... thanks again, babe)! We're talking the whole works - one hour massage, one hour facial and an amazing pedicure that left my flower-gardening feet looking more pampered than they've been in a long time. Right about now you may be asking "What the heck does this have to do with Star Wars? Hello?"

Well, interestingly enough, even a day at the spa can inspire SW-related thoughts, among a plethora of other musings...

As I was laying there getting my facial, the gal put something over my eyes, turned on a bright light, and proceeded to examine my skin under a magnifying device of some kind. "You have very nice skin for your age," she said. "Very few fine lines and wrinkles." Well, aside from the hyper-pigmentation I have on my forehead from sun damage, I guess I'm doing pretty well, right?

Wait a second..."for my age?" I thought... "FEW lines and wrinkles...that means there ARE some, yes...?!" Now, I'm not the type that freaks out over any imperfections that I may have...I'm 39 and have no illusions of a fountain of youth, and I've had more surgeries than you can shake a stick at, so scars and lines are nothing new to me. I'm actually proud of them because I fought death a few times and won...but it got me thinking.

Strangely enough, the first thing I thought about were clones. Clone troopers, ARC troopers, Republic Commandos...the 501st...you name it...clones. Their whole lives were pretty much spent under some kind of microscope. They were bred, born and raised to do a certain job, but when they were "done," what happened to them? Granted, tens of thousands died in battle during the prime of their existence, but what about those who didn't...? At some point, when they are under the microscope, and some Kaminoan scientist finds too many lines and wrinkles, too many imperfections, are they just...tossed aside? All they ever knew was their training. Could they live a different life?

I'm reading Karen Traviss' Hard Contact right now (which I am very much enjoying, btw), and although I'm not very far into it, my questions are being reinforced...at one point a RC said something along the lines that he'd rather die in combat than shrivel up and become old...unnecessary.

It makes me think of my own existence...getting older...more lines and wrinkles...soon may not be able to do certain physical things anymore. In some ways, our society does cast aside the elderly (not always, but it happens). In many societies, elders are revered and cherished. Where would an elderly clone fit in?

It also makes me think of the way society seems to almost worship celebrities that died in their prime. Think about it - we see Elvis impersonators everywhere, and I'm sure we'll be seeing Michael Jackson tribute impersonators for decades to come. Not that I'm against that at all, but I can't even name a celebrity who died in old age that is revered as much...can you? I wonder if Elvis and Michael would have the same "enchantment factor" if they had lived to be 90?

I have more thoughts on the whole cloning issue - I'm working on that in my head as well...and am getting help on that one from another one of my dear friends - Anakinside1 . We'll post that blog at some point. But for now, these are my thoughts.

Whelp, time to slap on the Oil of Olay, Industrial Strength Night Eye Treatment and some Chap Stick, then head to bed. Oh yeah, I forgot the firming lotion and foot cream...sweet dreams!

MTFBWY...always!

~MO2YP~