Major respect to the creator of that game. It's so easy to create mind-numbing garbage that appeals to kids on Roblox (and makes big money), but the fact that they created something substantive with educational value is incredible.

After securing a Masters in Music Composition, my grandad, a proud New Zealander, decided to go on the traditional overseas experience (OE). This was back in the 50s when, for most Kiwis, the OE was either to Australia or, well, Australia. So grandad and a group of four friends hopped onto a ship destined for Sydney.

The crossing over the Tasman sea was mostly smooth sailing, peppered with a bit of sea sickness among the mates. Every night, grandad was drawn to the spacious passenger lounge where a pianist would play. In no time at all, they docked in Sydney. Initially Sydney was their final destination, yet during the voyage, they heard so much about Melbourne that they revised their plan. The guys devised a competition with Melbourne as the finish line, agreeing to check the post office for messages left by anyone who got there ahead of the rest.

Two of the friends decided to hitchhike, while the other two had made connections with some women on the ship and planned to join them on a bus tour down to Melbourne. Grandad could have joined either team, but with a cheeky smile decided to make his way there solo.

When I asked him if he had felt afraid being alone, he responded, "Truthfully, not really. Safety was never a concern. I suppose it should've been, but all I could think of was the thrill of the adventure."

Upon seeing the ship's pianist disembark in Sydney, grandad suddenly had an idea. He made his way to the captain's quarters, or as close as he could get, to inquire about the next leg of the cruise. "Oh, it's heading to Melbourne, Victoria."

"Perfect."

He promptly offered his piano-playing services in exchange for accommodation and meals. His offer was accepted, and he was back on the ship, luggage and all.

His days and nights were then spent entertaining the passengers, some taken on at Sydney, while others recognized him from the initial journey. Upon reaching Melbourne, he went straight to the city center post office, and finding no messages from his mates, he left one for them. He settled into a local backpacker's lodge, and started discovering the city. Only two days later, his friends arrived within hours of each other. They eventually found my grandad in the lodge's bar, stretched comfortably over two chairs, lazily sipping a half-warm beer.

When they questioned how he got to Melbourne ahead of them, he merely winked, spinning a web of outlandish stories ("Your bus ride? I was driving." "I surfed here on the backs of Hunstmen spiders." "I just walked very quickly."), until they finally gave up and joined him for a round of beers. A decade or two later, he finally shared the real story. Still, how much of it is true remains uncertain. His daughters (my mom and aunts) and his friends can only confirm that grandad did indeed get to Melbourne before the rest, but the truth about how he got there has remained elusive.

Grandad always maintained that his life truly bloomed once he retired. He dedicated himself to his community and was recognized with a Queen's Service Medal, a New Zealand Citizen's Award, and other accolades tied to music, education, and community service. I'd consider myself lucky to accomplish even a fraction of what he achieved post-retirement. As I write this, there's a piano to my right. And if I lift the lid, I see grandad's name, inscribed with the rusty precision of a 7 year old. Grandad first learned to play on this piano, and he left it to me when he passed.