See Eclectica Play

It was Spring Break this past week, though I use the word "break" rather loosely. For me, it meant I got to go home to northern Indiana and do research at my old school, try to squeeze in some other work, too. But I count my blessings: at least I didn't have to try to go and teach rather rowdy third graders every day while also attending my own classes and teaching "the older kids" (my simplified description to the third graders of my undergrad preservice teachers). And, it felt good to be in a classroom with the little guys again, teaching about things I care about, and they seem to enjoy learning about. I also did find time this week to visit with a number of friends and relatives I treasure, and do some catching up. In two particular circumstances, I also managed to incorporate some play as well.

But before I tell you about that, let me introduce you to Eclectica. In class we were asked to write a resume for who we would want to be as a fully embodied player without any restraints put on that definition. Eclectica is the result. She is who I would want to be if I could play as I wish, and if I could just score a few superpowers. For example, she can time bend with her magic pocket watch so that she has more time and can travel quickly, either into the past or in the present so that she can immerse herself in the cultures of the world, and in history. She is able to fit comfortably in other cultures, adding and blending aspects of them within herself without losing her core identity, and learning how to speak languages, sing, play instruments and dance in a short amount of time if she is mentored by someone in the culture. Other powers include reading at the speed of light, being fit with insta-health regeneration after 7 or more hours of sleep, and facing the world with rational fearlessness- unafraid to be herself and take reasonable risks. All of these things allow her to enjoy the things she loves to do, such as learning about culture, history, anthropology and geography by doing and experiencing; dancing, singing, playing instruments in multiple genres; reading and writing for the fun of it; scrapbooking; being active out in natural splendour, and helping people feel valued while encouraging them to live joy-filled and playful lives. See, Eclectica is all that I wish I could be when it comes to being a playful person. She is the integration of multiple rhetorics of play, and embodies elements of Stuart Brown's ideas on play, as well as Diane Ackerman's. Unfortunately, some of these things really would take magic and superpowers to achieve, but others just take time, energy, money, and courage, things that I am often short of. Still, I hold fast to the idea that in some ways I contain elements of  my alter ego super-player. This class is beginning to revive some of those playful elements in me again.

Eclectica takes a whiff of the still warm Hot Cross Buns

Another part of the assignment was to make a figure of our super embodied player to accompany us on our Spring Break, and to be incorporated into our play for the week. I think the idea of Flat Stanleys, travel gnomes, and other figures that travel around and show up in people's pictures are a lot of fun to see, but I felt a little foolish myself in bringing her out. It just goes to show that societal assumptions and pressures about adulthood press in on us even when we disagree with them and want to resist. Fortunately, I was with wonderful family and friends who didn't look askance or question why a doctoral student was playing with a big cardboard figure as an assignment for class, and she engendered some interesting conversations along the way. The first play event was at my aunt's and uncle's house. They have a tradition of having my sister and friends of ours who are like sisters over on the weekend to eat and chat and hang out together. Whenever I am home, I join them if possible. My aunt is a fabulous baker, and all the men in the family cook as well, so there is never a shortage of yumminess to share when we go over. This weekend was special, as my aunt had baked hot cross buns for the Easter season, and my uncle, who is from Ireland, had made corned beef, potatoes and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day, which was coming up. We spent hours talking, and for the first time I got to hear the amazing story of how he had found his birth family after 50+ years of separation. The evening was a combination of things I love: celebration, storytelling, good food, connecting with people important to me, and learning about other cultures through all these things.

My scrapbook expert friend helps Eclectica use the
tape runner tool

The second play event was one I have been looking forward to for a long time, and which I have missed ever since I began grad school: scrapbooking. A group of close friends got together for the evening, and over pizza, dessert and decadent brewed chocolate drinks, took some time to catch up with each other. Then I was able to dive into the hobby I have all but abandoned because of the lack of time. It took me some time to look through the materials I had and try to remember how I used to organize myself to begin to create. Once I got the hang of it again, I loved pulling out the beautiful papers I used to enjoy looking at, planning graphically pleasing pages, and reminiscing over old photos from my undergrad years. Who would have thought cutting paper, using the rolling adhesive tool and organizing photos in a sequence could bring such warm memories and pleasure? Eclectica was there again.... and in typing this, I realize the figure I made of her was my love of papercrafting embodied in a cardboard doll! She herself was scrapbooked, so it was fun to think about how my love of this hobby even bled over into her creation.

So what to make of my time playing with Eclectica? First of all, I recognize my need to develop rational fearlessness, to not be afraid to be myself, nor be embarrassed of playing how I want to play, even if other adults think it's wierd. Secondly, my play this week affirmed some of the things I value as a player, and that I need to continue to work to incorporate these things into my life, even as a busy grad student. While I am not too bad at getting together with people I love and care about, and taking opportunities to experience culture, I have sorely neglected my inner scrapbooker. Some weeks ago, thanks to this class, I decided that I need to somehow make space in my bedroom to put up a table where I can leave my scrapbooking out. One of the reasons I don't scrapbook is because the amount of time it takes to pull things out, and then to clean up afterwards sucks up most of the time I would have to work on things. If I have a dedicated space for scrapbooking, I am more likely to sit down and work on things for an hour or two, because I don't have to factor in unpacking and clean up. The joy and relaxation I felt this weekend scrapbooking once more has made me even more determined to figure out how to make space in my apartment to reintegrate this hobby in my life. In fact, I even pulled a few scrapbooking things out of the storage closet up here to take back to Btown so I can get going again. And I have chosen to work on a small project, so that I can also feel a sense of accomplishment in getting something completed after such a long hiatus.

Who would have thought playing with a cardboard doll could engender such reflection and action?