[Ansteorra] The Journey

Sat Apr 13 14:21:58 PDT 2002

Wow. My lady, I do believe you have hit the proverbial
nail on the head. I haven't been playing as long as
you (nearly three years now). However, I understand
exactly what you are saying.

My first event was Ansteorra's Twentieth Year
Celebration. I was (in my mind, anyway) all dolled up
in a bodice, skirt and chemise. I even had a British
accent I picked up from high school theatre. I was
attempting to talk to a gentle (I don't remember who)
about the schism King Henry VIII had caused with his
divorces. The gentle looked at me and point blank
said, "This is not a role-playing game. This is the
SCA." Well, needless to say, I dumped the accent and
stopped talking about period stuff for a while.

I found that, in being a bard, I could do all that
again and have fun in the process. Yes, I think there
are some who take this game a little too seriously as
far as the historical aspects are concerned. I mean, I
wish I could have a truly Tudor/Elizabethan gown
encrusted with emeralds, rubies and diamonds, as a
lady of my station would wear. But, with my limited
resources that is not a possibility (unless I win the
Lottery tonight!). But, I make do with what I do have
and wear each piece of garb with pride.

I love this game. I love how I was accepted without
question and how I was allowed to grow as a performer.
I love the friends I have made and continue to make in
this journey.

I know I'm rambling but I just want people to offer
suggestions on how to create a more "period" style,
rather than tell someone they did a bad job on
something or shouldn't be "period" or whatever. We're
all in this game because we value honor, courtesy and
grace above all else.

Thanks for letting me drop my 2₤ in the box!

In search of the Dream,
Lady Eleanor Cleavely
Barony of Elfsea

>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Lady Simone ui' Dunlaingh
>   To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org
>   Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 2:53 PM
>   Subject: [Ansteorra] The Journey (was SCA slang)
>
>
>   "If that's the way things are shaping up, we (the
> history crowd) can't
>   possibly win, and that's depressing."
>
>   It's not a win or lose competition I think, as
> more of a growing process.
>   We all start our Journey into the SCA for
> different reasons. We are a group
>   who's individuals comes from diverse social and
> economical backgrounds. We
>   all have one thing in common We each were
> introduced into the SCA and during
>   that introduction found an element of the SCA that
> became special for us.
>
>   For some it was the fighting, for others the arts,
> the costumes. the
>   history, the ability to serve, the unconditional
> acceptance by the people we
>   met, the tolerance shown by others, Seeing people
> living the Ideals of
>   honor, courtesy, and chivalry that we might have
> found missing in every day
>   life, socializing, the parties. The list could be
> increase at infinitum.
>   Regardless of what touched our Hearts. we each
> decided to Join in the dream
>   of the SCA and started our Journey into the
> current middle ages.
>
>   When I started my journey in the SCA I found a
> place were I was accepted
>   with all my faults, and fell in love with the
> fighting. I hated to read I
>   hated history and I had no Idea how to be a person
> of honor and integrity.
>   all these I learned over the years.
>   >From the "History crowd I learned to appreciate
> history and passed my first
>   history class because I no longer found it
> Boring.(hey I was 11). Having to
>   research what chivalry was opened my eyes to the
> wonders that I could only
>   find by reading a book. The artisans taught me new
> crafts I could do,I
>   stopped driving my mom nuts by saying I was Bored
> all the time I now had
>   something to do. and when my life turned upside
> down I had new friends that
>   helped me pick up the pieces.
>
>   Over the years I have grown in different areas in
> the SCA as I have grown up
>   in the real world. The Journey is a process of
> discovery one that takes us
>   from Mundanes to hopefully something better than
> we were when we started. We
>   learn to appreciate the history, the arts, the
> fighting, the service and the
>    pageantry. We learn how to value the Ideal of the
> Society, The history of
>   the middle ages as well as the SCA history. Each
> of our individual talents,
>   skills assets and defects make up the Dream. how
> we chose to live and grow
>   in the dream makes up our own Journey.
>
>   We may not always get along or agree and that's
> OK. We may have very
>   contrasting opinions and that's OK to. on occasion
> we will cause offense to
>   someone that's part of life, and we can make
> amends for those times.
>   regardless of were we came from, what we do in the
> SCA we are all a part of
>   a wonderful group of people living a dream of the
> current middle ages. I for
>   one am grateful for you all even the ones I don't
> always agree with. for
>   without you there would not be an SCA as we know
> it today.
>
>   Lady Simone Maurian ui' Dunlaingh
>   simone at elfsea.net
>
>
>   _______________________________________________
>   Ansteorra mailing list
>   Ansteorra at ansteorra.org
>
> http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/ansteorra
> --
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ansteorra mailing list
> Ansteorra at ansteorra.org
> http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/ansteorra

=====
The human language is like a cracked kettle on which we beat out a tune for a dancing bear, when we hope with our music to move the stars.
- - - Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

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