My first trooping experience

[Pixelito]

Hey guys!
I'm not 100% sure what the proper section for this is, but I figured it'd be best here!
I want to share my first experience wearing my armor around and see what all of you have experienced.

This past weekend, I went to an unrelated convention down in Reno, NV... It isn't where you would expect to see a Stormtrooper, but I wanted to give my armor a test run in an environment where it wouldn't be under any real scrutiny. After breaking my record for putting it on (45 minutes at the time, I'm down to 20 now), I took an elevator down from my hotel room to the convention space. After just a few minutes and pictures, I heard somebody scream "AAAHHH Stormtrooper!!!" she sounded very excited, but I didn't see anybody. I then realized that there was a very young girl hugging my leg. She was probably 5 or 6 at the most, I couldn't see her very well as she was in one of my many blind spots. Her mother asked me to take a picture, so I kneeled down as much as I could and apologized for being so tall.... At which point the little girl freaked out even more because I sounded just like a Stormtrooper (thanks Icomm!). After a small conversation, we went our separate ways.

The next day, I was wearing my armor around again and the girl's mother approached me. She explained that they had been on vacation for a week or so and her daughter was getting very home sick. She had brought her down to the convention to see all the costumes in hopes of cheering her up a bit. She told me that even after seeing all the other costumes, she wouldn't stop talking about the Stormtrooper and had to tell her entire family about it. The mother was nearly in tears as she thanked me for making her daughter's vacation the best ever. I may/may not have teared up inside my helmet a bit.

This one experience; one kid and one smile, made the past 2 months of building worth it. This is why I joined the 501st...and I haven't even been to an official event yet...

I'm curious if any of you have similar stories to share with everybody.


Pardon my rambling 

[carpe mindiem]

That's awesome! I love stories like this.

Along these lines, one of my more memorable troops was one I did as Queen Amidala (the big, red, throne-room dress version) at an elementary school with a bunch of our guys in armor. They introduced us costumers, had us break off into different parts of the gym so we each kind of had our own area, and then told the kids they could all go visit with us. 90% of the little girls flocked to me while the boys spread out with everyone else. It was hilarious! And they had so many questions! Is that your real hair? Does anyone help you do your makeup? Which planet is your favorite? Why don't you have a lightsaber?

On the flip side, it's also fun to dress up in armor and then reveal that I'm a girl to little girls by talking to them or tilting up my helmet so they can see my face. Sometimes it's like watching their brains explode while they process it. 

But the big impacts for me are the Make-A-Wish troops. We almost always hear afterward that the kiddo couldn't stop talking about us, that it was the best day ever, etc. Making that kind of a difference in a kid's life is big. It puts everything in perspective. Get ready for all kinds of opportunities to take part in great things like this as a member.

[L Kamino]

Those are such great stories! 

One of my favorites comes from a visit to Doernbecher in February of this year.  A middle school student escorted us to visit the kids as he gave out gifts.  That part alone is a big one, as he had been a patient up there himself and wanted to give something back for all of the help he received.  What a special young man!  We had a pretty large group and droids with us.  We took the elevator and entered a very long access hall that appeared empty until....we heard a little girl's voice saying, "Oh!  Oh!" repeatedly as she took off running our way from the end of the hall with her adult following close behind.  She ended up in the middle of us, looking at each of us and the droids with the happiest face!  This photo doesn't do the moment justice, but I'll never forget her.



Like Mindie described, I have fun revealing I'm a girl under the mask too.  Sometimes I'll just speak in my normal voice to try to get the really little ones to come up if they're unsure.  That usually works, and it's funny to see the reaction of the parents. 

Watching the generosity and kindness of the other troopers interacting with the kids-picking them up, handing them blasters or sabers for a photo, all of the consideration, makes me so proud to be a part of this group.  I know that each time we go out, we're becoming part of a special memory of a family outing, a surprise, a forever photo.  We're doing something very important.     

[jj49]

Such good stories and memories for the kids, the parents, and for each of you. In just the short time I have been trooping, it has definitely already given me many many moments of being as just as much in awe, if not more, with the kids of all ages we are there with. While all events are super fun and always show me something new and exciting for whoever we are interacting with, the hospitals and special birthdays for those kids that are going through what most could not imagine, and yet they have the greatest smiles and are so happy to be a part of the moment with us, are the ones that make my heart fill (and the 'allergies' and 'sweat' drip a little more down my face)   

great stories and always love to hear them 

[MetalJedi]

Thank you to everyone for sharing your stories!

After doing this for a while, I think it is easy to forget what it is like for new troopers. The events all start to blend together, but even the most jaded veterans have memories of those few special moments.

We should never forget the fun that comes from putting on a Star Wars costume and making people smile.

Trooping is fun! (You can put that on a t-shirt.)

[carpe mindiem]

Trooping is fun! (You can put that on a t-shirt.)

If you're serious, I can make this happen on Spreadshirt.

[Pixelito]

Thanks for sharing, everybody! I certainly can't wait to start doing some actual events with all of you!