I took my youngest daughter to Disneyland the other day. Unexpectedly. You know that feeling you get when you find a twenty dollar bill crumpled in the pocket of a pair of jeans you're about to wash, or the thrill you get when your spouse/friend/significant other says, "Let's go to the movies tonight to see (whatever movie you're dying to see but you know he/she isn't)?" That's how I felt the other day.

About two weeks ago, it hit me that an opportunity lay within my grasp, all for the "price" of re-arranging my schedule, taking my daughter out of school for a few days, and the $10.00 fee for the frequent flyer tickets. Husband of amidalooine was scheduled to attend a conference in Anaheim, California, and goshdarnit, why, I asked myself, shouldn't I go, too, or at least join him for part of the trip once he got out there (which is what I did)? I rarely get to travel with my hubby and just the youngest padawan, and I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to visit some very dear friends (more about that in a minute), and I have to confess that I was stressed out to the max and ready for a break.

I love to travel. Love it. Everything about it. I love the preparation, the knowing feeling I have when I drive to the airport, the "in crowd" sensation that goes with boarding a flight with a bunch of strangers who, for a few brief hours, are bound for the exact same destination I am. I love the swell of pride that overwhelms me to the point of tears sometimes when I take my 8-year-old's small hand in mine and point out huge planes and explain airport security to her while passersby look on with smiles. I just love to travel, especially with my baby.

Flight? Check. Rental car? Check? Directions? No problem. As we approached my husband's hotel on the trip from LAX, though, the tenor of my trip changed drastically. There it was, within walking distance of the hotel. Disneyland!

I can't recall the last time I felt as carefree as I did strolling down the boulevard, hand in hand with my little girl, toward Mickey's house. It was just so easy! We watched the Main Street parade and rode rides and bought ourselves matching Minnie ears (yes, I wore them proudly!), and later, my husband was able to join us for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Dumbo and the teacups and fireworks. It was such a magical night...and then I saw it...

Star Wars stuff!

In the Tomorrowland section of Disneyland, there's a whole store devoted to Star Wars next to a ride called Star Tours. I couldn't ride the ride (once upon a time in a galaxy far, far before children, my senses could handle virtual rides with realistic movement...now such things just make me feel the need to yak), but when I walked into the store with my nearest and dearest, I was overwhelmed by that feeling. You know the one. The one where your eyes glaze over at the light sabers and voice changer Darth Vader masks and action figures, and you are compelled to buy things you can't afford. It was the strangest sensation. I was just so...excited. There I was in Disneyland, already on a "this is so freaking cool" high, and I caught site of Yoda and Chewie and Darth Tater t-shirts, and I was just...in SW heaven. Mr. 'looine and the padawan went off in search of sweatshirts for us (I had no idea it was possible to get quite that chilly at night in Los Angeles) and I stood staring at the blaster I decided I want for Christmas, at home in the GFFA. Bliss.

While our impromptu trip to Disneyland brought me unexpectedly close to this Star Wars world that I have come to love so much, my destination the next day made me realize that there are places that might start with Star Wars, but have gone so far beyond the saga and this blogosphere that they are no longer about SW at all. The next day I visited my dear friends, the Stooge family, and I realized, with an even stronger pull on my heart than I felt in May, that these people are like family to me. I was so excited to introduce my baby girl to Stooge et al, and though the Stooge, my padawan, and I did have the awesome opportunity to watch AOTC clones together (how cool is that?!), my relationship with my dear muppet friend and his family, is no longer rooted in Star Wars. If our beloved saga went away forever, the Stooges and I would still be great friends, special friends. How very fortunate I am to have them in my life; I just feel so at home there with them. I miss them already.

Now, back to my Christmas list....blaster, Anakin action figure, Yoda slippers....