[Ansteorra] My Deepest Gratitude

[D. Vandever]

My Dearest Ansteorra,

As you probably figured out, I had very high hopes for a really "wow"
display of our history. I must say that even my lofty ideals concerning what
a great museum would contain were blown away by the quality and quantity of
the history that came forward this last weekend. Once again, my beloved
Kingdom has shown the depth of its heart. I can not begin to tell you how
grateful I am to the huge number of you who searched, dusted-off, labeled,
framed, transported and displayed your group's precious treasures. I
delighted in reading newsletter after newsletter; viewed hundreds of photos;
touched items of history I didn't even know existed all due to your meeting
my call. Thank you to each and every one of you.

I can not even begin to name off and thank everyone individually but there
are several whose names I wish to call.

My gratitude is especially high to H.E., Countess Tessa of the Gardens and
H.E., Count Sir Simonn of Amber Isle for all their love, help, and
incredible enthusiasm as I tried to bring together a display worthy of our
kingdom. Gentle Tessa, bless you a thousand times for your joy and wisdom.
Galiant Simonn, I could listen to your stories for hours, the time was so
brief. I know that you will be ready to share more of yourself when I ask,
for this is what true heroes do.

My thanks to Her Grace, Duchess Willow de Wisp, for her time and patience
with my  countless questions. I am grateful for all the opportunities you
gave me to learn more of yourself. The love you bear this kingdom is truely
incredible. Thank you so very much.

Thank you to H.E., Qadi 'Abd Al-Mahdi Jamal Ibn Hakim and H.E., Contessa
Valeria Richila Navarro, Baron and Baroness of the Steppes for the
encouragement and inspiration that they have been to me. Your love for our
history is an example for all people of our Kingdom to follow.

Thank you to Master Richard Fairborn and H.L. Arabella de Montacute for
having the faith to name me as the museum director. I appreciate their
confidence in my abilities.

I also have a special place of thanks for Mistress Shanahan the Fey called
Stormbearer. This great and gracious lady came to sit at the museum to share
her immense knowledge of our history despite severe and on-going health
problems. Somehow she found the strength to bring our history alive to any
and all who would listen and her knowledge is nearly as deep as Duchess
Willow's. I know what brought her and that was her love for our Kingdom.
Vivat for such love displayed!

I also wish to thank the gentles who came to make sure *I* was not
overextending myself. Lady Cecili who despite a broken toe came to check on
me about every two hours throughout the event to make sure I ate. Lady
Melody who sat for some time greeting people coming into the museum. Lady
Galiana who, when she was not busy with the heraldic consultation table,
helped me tote in and take down the display. M'lady Aldis better known as
"Snorri's Mom" who fed me lunch on Friday. Lady Ciaranet who brought me
pasta Friday night and who helped with the museum. There is one young lady
whose name is escaping me, but she hung banners, greeted people, put out
refreshments and just helped me in any way she could. I wish I could call
your name, m'lady but my memory has faded. Please accept my apologies, for
your service to me was most appreciated.

It is this last that leads me to make a plea to all of you who have had the
patience to read to the very end. As the Argent Anniversary has now become
part of our past, I beg you to preserve our history! As so amply
demonstrated above, our memories are fragile and soon to forget. Write down
your champions! Label your photographs! Frame your scrolls and petitions!
Designate an enthusiastic, organized and dedicated person to be your group's
historian! Help that person in every way you can! Come to King's Round Table
to take my Historian's Class! Attend the Historian's classes I shall give at
other events! Email me with your ideas and your questions!

The last line of a poem I wrote at the behest of the Baron of the Steppes as
his bard admonishes us to "Forget not your heros, Ansteorra". We have been
forgetting. The Museum has helped us to remember. If its displays stirred
you in anyway, let us dig into our memories so that when the 30th or 50th or
even 100th anniversary of our kingdom comes, we shall have treasures beyond
counting to share with our future heirs. As great as our people are, I am
sure this will be so. Until then, I remain...

In Service,
H.L. Annes Clotilde von Bamburg
Former Argent Museum Director
Newly named Kingdom Historian
Dear God,  Help me to be the person
my dog thinks I am.  Amen