A Long-Awaited Return to the Stars

Halcy-Con 2025 was more than just a convention for me, it was something I’d been holding in my heart for over a year.

Last year, we had everything ready: tickets purchased, hotel booked, car packed. We were supposed to leave the very day the convention started. And then life stopped. My mom had a serious medical emergency, and we almost lost her. We canceled everything on the spot.

I’m so grateful to say that my mom is now doing great, but the FOMO last year was intense. Watching everyone’s photos and stories roll in while we stayed home was painful. And yet, so many of you rallied around me, sending swag, trading items by mail, and reminding me I was still part of this community even from afar. That kindness meant more than I can express.

This year, it was finally our turn. Our chance to be there in person, to feel that camaraderie, and to find the closure I’d been quietly craving since the Halcyon closed her doors.

And honestly? It felt like one special moment after another.

Seeing My Art on Display

One of the first magical moments happened before I even arrived: I was insisted into bringing my Galactic Starcruiser–themed art to Halcy-Con.

Walking in and seeing my pieces on display behind the registration desk and in the CSL 22 Lounge was surreal. This wasn’t just art sitting on a table, it was part of the environment, part of the experience. To see something I created woven into the fabric of a convention that means so much to me… I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling.

For someone who has wrestled with imposter syndrome around calling herself an “artist,” that simple act of being included was huge.

Selling a Piece, and Gaining Something Priceless

Then came the moment that truly took my breath away: I sold one of my pieces.

I have struggled for years with identifying as an artist. I create because I love it, but there’s always been that little voice asking, “Is this actually good enough? Does this matter to anyone but me?” So when someone not only wanted to buy my art, but genuinely loved it, it was incredibly validating and deeply moving.

And then they went even further.

The person who bought the piece also gave me a gift in return, something that felt absolutely priceless on a soul level. It was so thoughtful and heartfelt that I genuinely think I cried for about an hour afterward. It wasn’t just a transaction; it was a connection.

We followed up later, talked more, and it turned into a new friendship, complete with Starcruiser geeking, shared memories, and that instant bond you get when you’ve both loved the same thing so fiercely. In return for all the kindness I also gave my new friend a special gift.

A Standby Miracle: The Chef Andrew Experience

Another highlight of the weekend was something I didn’t think I’d get to experience at all: The Chef Andrew Experience.

The event had sold out, and I’d made my peace with missing it. But then, like a little sprinkle of Halcyon magic, standby tickets opened up at the convention, and I managed to snag one.

Getting to sit down and enjoy that incredible meal, in that atmosphere, with my best friend by my side, felt like such a gift. It was one of those “we weren’t supposed to be here, but somehow we are” moments that the Starcruiser always seemed to specialize in.

Time with My Husband and My Best Friend

Beyond all the big moments, some of the most meaningful memories came from something simple: just being there with my husband and my best friend.

I know, in many ways, this convention was more for me than for him. The Halcyon is my emotional mothership. But watching my husband genuinely have fun, laugh, and get pulled into the joy of it all made my heart so happy. Sharing this space with the two people closest to me, in a community that means so much, felt incredibly special.

It wasn’t just about panels or events—it was about late-night conversations, shared smiles, in-jokes, and that feeling of “we’re really here.”

All the Tiny Moments During the Con

Halcy-Con this year was cathartic in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. I met so many wonderful people, made new connections, and found myself surrounded by moments that stitched my heart back together a little bit at a time. Beyond the big highlights I’ve already shared, there were so many smaller, but equally magical, experiences that made this convention unforgettable.

Some of my favorite extra moments included:

• Stepping into the Galactic Starcruiser VR environment and feeling, even just for a little while, like I was back onboard the ship I love so much.
• Participating in a Lightsaber Training session, getting to feel that familiar mix of focus, excitement, and pure childlike joy.
• Watching the premiere of Halcyon Daze, the Galactic Starcruiser documentary, and reliving our shared story through so many heartfelt interviews and memories.
• Trading and receiving swag with other attendees, each item becoming a tiny piece of connection and a tangible reminder of this incredible community.
• Seeing D3-09 in person and getting to reunite with SK, the droid who means so much to so many of us.
• Enjoying a birthday shopping spree at Ma’Li’s Marketplace, and even snagging a few treasures I missed out on last year.
• Walking past the oversized banners displayed around the convention space, which made it so easy to pretend we were right back on the Halcyon’s decks.
• Listening to Star Shanties in the CSL 22 Lounge, letting the music wash over me like we were sailing among the stars all over again.

It was a time to remember and reminisce, to tell old stories and relive favorite moments aboard the Halcyon. But it was also a time to grieve, both for the friends we once sailed with who are no longer with us, and for the Lady H herself, an experience we’ll never be able to repeat in quite the same way again.

This year, I finally found the closure I missed last year. I got to cry, to laugh, to celebrate, to create, to connect, and to feel, very clearly, that while the ship may be gone, what she gave us is not.

To everyone who helped make this year’s Halcy-Con so special: thank you. You helped keep the stars shining a little brighter for me.

Whether I have an opportunity to attend again or not to all those out there…

May The Stars Light Your Way…

Tab’u tey!!!