<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1 http-equiv=Content-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<META content='"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=GENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>-----Original Message-----</B><BR><B>From: </B>J
Light <<A href="mailto:joelight@lx.net">joelight@lx.net</A>><BR><B>To:
</B>Rosario <<A
href="mailto:rosario@camalott.com">rosario@camalott.com</A>><BR><B>Date:
</B>Sunday, November 02, 1997 4:11 PM<BR><B>Subject:
</B>Stuff<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<P><FONT face=Arial>This article was written by one of our "Oldtimers"
for our local newletter. Thought you would all enjoy it.
Ulrica</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P align=center>Journey Through Some S.C.A. Thoughts</P>
<P align=center></P>
<P align=left>I was talking to some friends on the start of my society life of
some 16 years. The whole thing began for me suddenly enough. I was at work at a
local movie theater at the ticket booth, when "NO KIDDING" a man in a
kilt, white long sleeve shirt, and knee high suede boots comes walking in. In
West Texas of all places! I thought this man was looking for someone to beat him
up. He handed me a paper with basic S.C.A. 101 information on it and tells me
the highlights along with a meeting time for the following week end. I went.
</P>
<P align=left>The Rotary Room at the local Library was packed. This man must
have walked both cities to get this much of an attendance. That meeting was when
our group had its first appointing of officers and that following week end we
held our first fighter practice. We were informed about fighting, squires, and
knights. Two "FOR REAL" Knights came up from El Paso (Citadel) to give
us our first introduction to the fighting game. We all got a chance to play and
after that the fire was on! We had our gifted welding buddies make us our first
ugly bucket helms. </P>
<P align=left>This time in our group was truly a Renaissance. We held all sorts
of classes on armoring, costuming, etc. We wore carpet armor for about the first
7 years with hockey gloves for hand protection. (Try getting those kinds of
gloves in West Texas.) We heard about the "S.C.A. Knight," we all had
visions of a fighter who didn’t need any armor and who’s shield was
nothing more than decoration. This legendary person was so focused as to be able
to parry any blow and return a strike with lightning accuracy. To face a knight
in battle was certain defeat. We trained ourselves to fight, we became good at
being self-taught. We also had what was known back then as the "Trick of
the Month." This technique was based on faking out your opponent rather
than using skill. </P>
<P align=left>We finally worked our way up to our first major event. A
"War." The War was set to take place in San Angelo (Treloch), a battle
setting Ansteorra against Atenveldt. We planned for the event for months. When
we finally left, we packed like Gypsies on a long move and with the call
"Wagons Ho!" we left for the site. As we arrived, the sun had already
set some 30 minutes back and the setting was magical. A low foggy mist curled
around low to the ground as we pulled up to the gate. We paid our fees and got
our first ever "Site" token, a yellow and black yarn braid. We entered
slowly, then spotted a man sporting a "Gasp" White Belt. He was
wearing a monk’s robe...could this be the first encounter with the
ultimate fighter? </P>
<P align=left>We looked for a place to camp and noticed a sign that read
"Camping for Royalty Only." We gazed at the encampment from our
position on the road. The Royalty Camp was surrounded by trees. Period tents and
pavilions filled the area and a fog floated on the edges. We wondered how they
managed to pluck this scene from somewhere out of time. We settled in nearby and
sat in our store bought lawn chairs, watching as persona after persona passed
by. The night sky displayed the stars in a wondrous way...yes...we were in the
Dream. </P>
<P align=left>The next day was one rarely reproduced in my memory. We grunted
and scratched as we armored up. We outnumbered the other army 20 to 1. Our
fighting force was close and tight, our eager bunch swatted at everything. Our
visions of a Society Knight was not shaken as a later famous Duke ran a gauntlet
of 100 fighters and made it out alive. </P>
<P align=left>Since that magical time, many tourneys have come and gone. I have
made lots of friends, joined households, and held offices. But, there is
something extra special about a Society friend. You can count on them as family.
So, as you read this, I ask you to reflect on a starry night or chilly evening
with the smell of smoke from a distant fire calling back memories from long ago.
Of friends to see and of some we lost somewhere along the way. Tell your story
of what the Dream is to you or ask someone to tell theirs. I say have fun, enjoy
each other, fight well, fight clean, say you’re sorry when you’re
wrong. Help those less knowledgeable than yourself or those not as strong. Help
make these times in which we live your Golden Years.</P>
<P align=left></P>
<P align=left>Yours in the Dream,</P>
<P align=left>Lord Samuel Carrillo</P>
<P>Blacklake</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>