I’ve been a Star Trek fan (although never a die-hard trekkie) since I can remember. I saw TOS (The Original Series) when it first came to German television in the early 1970s, in a dubbed version, obviously. For the subsequent movies I could go to a cinema and see them with the original English soundtrack because by then I lived in South Africa. And then there was TNG (The Next Generation) with “my” captain, Jean-Luc Piccard, with his wonderful Shakespeare trained voice. Patrick Stewart said “Engage!” and I engaged and never saw another dubbed version (of anything really).

Sometime in the 1990s my husband discovered rugby as a spectator sport. It could not be viewed on Saudi television, it also could not be viewed on German television. I tagged along to numerous Irish Pubs to see matches and I got drawn in (more by the incredibly enthusiastic and fair fans of the game). And then I heard the referees command a scrum: “crouch – touch – pause – engage!” and I was hooked.

I loved to hear that command, loved the association with Piccard. And then they went and changed the command. Now the referee says “crouch – bind -set” and it’s never been the same.

Legendary Welsh referee Nigel Owens directing a scrum at the Rugby World Cup match between Scotland and South Africa in Newcastle in 2015.

I only have the Playmobil set of TOS, Uhura, Kirk, Bones, and Spock. I’d actually spend money to get a TGN set, Piccard, No. 1, Data and Worf. I’d be so engaged!

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Engage