[Sca-cooks] OT - Why I joined the SCA

[Stefan li Rous]

I'm editing and adding some stuff to this file, and I was touched by  
this particular message, so I thought I'd post it here. While I  
labeled this as off-topic, it does mention SCA feasts...

SCA-reasons-msg   (32K)  8/11/05    The reasons various people joined  
the SCA.

The updated version of this file should be online within a week or two.

Stefan

 >>>
From: Paul DeLisle [ferret at hot.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 10:29 PM
To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org
Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Query...

 > So...why did you join and why do you stay in the SCA?

Why I joined is not important...a chance occurrence with a fringe  
Sca'ers in
my early military days...

But why I stayed......

I stayed because I found in the SCA a group of people who valued what  
I was
taught to value. That Honor, and Honesty, and Courage (yes, with capital
letters) were "important" in this Society.  That the values I had been
taught (by my parents) had finally found a place where they were valued.

I found a need to ...explain this...to others...
And so one day, I wrote this little piece...:

WHY I JOINED THE SCA (IN 125 WORDS OR LESS)
       Alden Pharamond
(Inspired by the survey at Pennsic;
mentioned in Mary Monica Pulver's book "Murder at the War")

Pageantry, colors, and Kings held in awe
Medieval feasts (although sometimes served raw)
...And the bards who put glorious tales in our heads!
(And the heralds who pry us from comfortable beds
And bloodlust in battle! ...and beer later on!
...And the sight of a misty encampment at dawn...
Ladies in Tudor, and fighters in steel
Who believe that, deep down, its no game, that its real.
Where your word is your bond, and that this thought holds true
For the Saxon, and Viking... and Cavalier, too
So... "Why do I stay with this game?" I reflect
Well, for Chivalry, Courtesy, Friendship, Respect
And a thousand small words, but mostly, you see
...For I've lived in the Dream... and now it, lives in me.

In Service, I remain
Alden Pharamond
Tempio, Ansteorra
<<<
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****