ES - Re: AOA thread

[AerynGeil at AOL.com]

I know most of the thread has lapsed but my experience has stuck with me and 
a cautionary tale never hurts.

Here goes...
In a highly political shire in a kingdom far far away a girl went to college 
and joined the SCA.

My first event was at the Strong family castle (publishers out of Chicago) 
and I fell in love with the dream.  Then I went to a business meeting where 
too many adults acted like children -- but the dream was strong and I went to 
another event.  I helped cut vegetables in the kitchen and someone fed me 
Baklava!!!.  The hook to go and play, especially to volunteer in a kitchen, 
was set. 

A new person came to the shire -- only later did we find out he had a PAST in 
another kingdom -- he thought the WAY to power was to bind people to him 
using awards.

I was not at the event where Ealasaid received her AOA - someone handed me 
the paper at the end of a business meeting with no words.  The dream became 
nightmarish for a while - I did not think I had earned the award.  There was 
dust in my mouth at the mention of politics and awards.

Soon - bless THEM all - I moved to Ansteorra's savage border.  The people 
there loved the dream as much as I did.  A few years later Ealasaid was 
called into court to receive her Comet.  I told the crown I would do my best 
to be worthy of that award as I finally felt I had earned my AOA. 

Bless them too that they had the sense to point out to me the things I had 
done to earn the Comet - And the dream was bright again.

The people of Ansteorra deserve great credit that politics is played only a 
little here and most people are willing to speak out when they see a good 
thing happening.

In service to the dream for love and respect of it.

Lady Ealasaid Mac alBhaird  called Aeryn
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