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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyone can complain that the roses have
thorns. Take a moment to notice that the thorns have roses.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At my last three events:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Glaslyn: all the fighters came together to get into
the spirit of the tourney, a weird mixture of increasing heroc
challenge and increasing silliness. In both the chivalric and the
rapier lists, I had fun, tried some unusual moves, and tested myself against
great odds. I fought for a lady I rarely get to fight for, who came to the
field for each fight and showed me honor throughout the day. I told my
first opponent to find somebody who knew how to kill me, and pointed out a
couple of people. (It worked for him, too. He got the first
kill. But it was double-elim, and I adjusted to what he was doing.)
I'm sure I talked to more than half the people present.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the tourneys and the archery competition, the
winners were awarded, but also, the ladies' pavilion rewarded the person who
impressed them the most. The ladies watched all the fighting, and showed
both knowledge and excitement.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It had a really fun bardic compeition, with a wide
mix of joy, tragedy, song, story, poetry, and homiletics. Two people told
us the tale of where they found their dream -- Lord Fiacca, a burly fighter,
told us how he found it in duty and loyalty, while Violante, a fairly new young
lady, described how she was inspired by the fierce heavy melees she watched at
Gulf War.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Crown: I was only there for a few hours, and took
part in no fighting, fencing or bardcraft. But did get to watch a
great final round, guard the new Prince, admire some weaving, walk around the
field and speak to people from all the regions. I also did some
important work, talking to people about solving a political issue (which I'm
sure some people will dismiss as politics).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Home-school demo: Yes, I'm actually listing a
demo. Just a few hours in a city park. But I served my baroness,
saluted my lady and the Queen, fought in both styles, performed and listened to
other performers, attended court -- in short, I was able to be Robin of
Gilwell. I loved it. The dream was there -- and we all shared
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-----------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In my first Black Star, in summer 1979, there was a
letter from a baroness who was resigning her barony and leaving forever, because
the dream was dead -- people were being too mundane, politics was taking over,
nobody would talk to anyone who wasn't a close friend, etc. I asked Master
Lloyd about it, and he said that people were always saying that, but the truth
is thatboth the joys and the frustration have always been there, and will always
be there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Since then, I've never gone three months without
hearing the the dream was dying.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>OF COURSE the dream is dying. The dream is
*always* dying. This is, after all, an organization founded on the desire
to do things that died away over four centuries ago.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the Renaissance, their tournament pageantry was
intended to hold onto the dying embers of the medieval ideal. A great
hero was Don Quixote, a madman trying to keep to the ideals of knighthood.
In the Middle Ages, they wanted to hold onto the ideals of Rome, and the great
hero was Arthur, a king who wanted to build a knightly order to defend the dying
ideals against an encroaching barbarism. In Rome, they all pined for the
lost glories of Greece, and the Greeks were mourning the lost Golden
Age.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The dream is always and forever on the brink of
death, and will always and forever need emergency first aid. From
you. From me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Go sing of your dream at a bardic circle.
Offer your favor to someone you normally wouldn't (or carry a favor you've
never carried before). Go up to somebody you don't know and introduce
yourself. Help some strangers put up their pavilion. Hold a
revel. Help somebody sew a costume, research a name, or learn a new combat
move.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And hurry. The dream is dying.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>P.S. DON'T nod thoughtfully and agree with
me. Instead, nod thoughtfully, agree with me and MAKE AN ACTION
PLAN. What will **you** do in the next couple of weeks to make
things better?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My plan:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A. On Tuesday, I will teach a period move to
everyone at fencing practice, and focus on the joys of combat in every
bout. I will deem it a successful practice if some of them start using the
move, and all my opponents walk off the field laughing or smiling. I will
fence with *every* newer fencer.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>B. I will finish the last lines in a praise
piece of Elfsea warriors, to be fully memorized for performance at Elfsea Spring
Fair.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>C. One more, but I won't announce it until Elfsea
Spring Faire.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What's your plan?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>RoG / JR</FONT></DIV>
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