SCA-reasons-msg

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SCA-reasons-msg – 2/1/11

The reasons various people joined the SCA.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous

Stefan at florilegium.org

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WHY I JOINED THE SCA (IN 125 WORDS OR LESS)

By 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, it's no game, that it's 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.

------------

From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: SCA vs Fishing?

Date: 26 Feb 1995 20:04:45 GMT

Organization: University of California, Berkeley

Beverly Roden (ac508 at dayton.wright.EDU) wrote:

: Why are you in the SCA? Why do you stay active? What keeps you coming

: back, even when some things frustrate or anger you?

Why do I stay in the SCA? Where else could I find one single organization

in which I could indulge my interest in: camping, sewing, reading,

painting, cooking, making music, history, poetry, languages, research,

embroidery, travel, teaching, etc. etc.

For me, being in the SCA is just a matter of efficiency!

Seriously, I did all the above-listed activities _before_ I joined the

SCA. I was the sort of kid who embroidered my school clothes, ground

pigments out of rocks I found lying around, couldn't have fibers in my

hands without absentmindedly spinning them into thread, made bows and

arrows out of old curtain rods and bamboo plant stakes. The SCA gave me

an explainable excuse to keep doing that stuff as an adult. All the

threads just come together in the right way.

Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn

From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 18 Dec 1995 16:56:26 GMT

Organization: University of California, Berkeley

Mike Huber (mike.huber at software.rockwell.com) wrote:

: I challenge all:

: Does anyone claim that there was no element of

: fantasy that first brought you into either The

: Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

I accept the challenge.

What first brought me to the study of the Middle Ages was the experience

of spending my eleventh year living in eastern Europe, surrounded by more

history than a Californian had ever previously even dreamed about. I

fell, and I fell hard, and there has been no looking back (or rather,

there has been no _lack_ of "looking back" :> ).

What brought me to the SCA was the chance to study and experience history

from a wildly different perspective than books could give me. I'd always

been very much into "making and doing", low-tech crafts were almost an

obsession for me (my college dorm voted me Most Likely to Survive on a

Desert Island), and I had always tended to bring an experiential approach

to anything I was fascinated by.

When I joined the SCA, I had plenty of outlets for fantasy already. That

wasn't what I was looking for.

Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn

From: sclark at blues.epas.utoronto.ca (Susan Carroll-Clark)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 18 Dec 1995 23:25:31 -0500

Organization: University of Toronto -- EPAS

Greetings!

Anaximander said,

>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

>fantasy that first brought you into either The

>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

Well, me for one. I came to the Middle Ages through the back door--I was

a classicist as an undergrad and kept getting interested in later and later

periods, until I had been firmly ejected from Late Antiquity into the Middle

Ages. I came to the SCA enamored of Ostrogothic history and wishing to

try to make the clothes and jewellery I had seen in burials and museums

in order to better understand how these people lived. Although I have moved

to the thirteenth century, my driving force is to attempt to

understand the way the people of the past thought and viewed their world,

and to understand daily life via wearing the clothes, trying the food,

understanding the religion, hearing the music, and so forth.

I often shock my friends with how little I know of literary fantasy beyond

Tolkein, some Arthurian stuff, Katherine Kurtz, and a smattering of other

authors.

Although I have come to enjoy the fantasy of creating a persona, I still

think the Middle Ages would be a nice place to visit...but I wouldn't want

to live there.

Cheers!

Nicolaa de Bracton

sclark at epas.utoronto.ca

From: Garick Chamberlin <Garick at vonkopke.demon.co.uk>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 95 20:52:29 GMT

Organization: Drachenwald

In article <4asbhf$193 at moci.mke.software.rockwell.com>

mike.huber at software.rockwell.com "Mike Huber" writes:

> I challenge all:

> Does anyone claim that there was no element of

> fantasy that first brought you into either The

> Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

Not taking up the challenge because I wouldn't stand a chance. I just thought

there should be a voice in this thread that is other than what I think of as an

exception.

My hook was, without a doubt, fantasy, though not elves and orcs type fantasy.

I came into the SCA to be Ivanhoe. My guiding force growing up was one hundred

percent Sir Walter Scott. I thought it was history, until I learned more. Even

as I have been hooked by Real History (TM) I lean heavily towards the

"fantastic" idealism of the Romances. I guess that, like Rat (Sir Richard of

Aldertree), I think that a perfect world for me would not be modern, or

medieval as it was, but medieval as *they* (the writers and followers of the

romances and philosophical treatises) would have it be.

Garick, Proud and happy to be a "knight in Shining Armor" and still striving to

be worthy.

Honor Virtus Est

From: rudi3964 at utdallas.edu

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 19 Dec 1995 11:47:57 -0600

Organization: The University of Texas at Dallas

Anaximander of Xidon (Mike Huber <mike.huber at software.rockwell.com>) proclaims:

>I challenge all:

>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

>fantasy that first brought you into either The

>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

The exceptions exist, but his point is generally true. My primary

motivation is Tolkien, and when I joined in the late 70s, virtually

everybody who joined was mostly brought to it either through Tolkien or

through SF conventions. By the late 80s, we were getting a large number

of people who were disenchanted with D&D, and wanted something more real.

My lady wife, Mistress Adelica Gilwell, joined through an interest in

history, and is often kind of bemused by the rarity of that motivation.

Actually, one of the greatest educational contributions of the SCA is that

people who joined just for the funny clothes, or fantasy, or to hit people

with sticks, are eventually led to an interest in real history. We do a

grave disservice to these people when we belittle the first beginnings of

serious study by comparing it to the work of long-term artists.

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin

From: david.razler at compudata.com (DAVID RAZLER)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 95 06:51:00 -0400

Organization: Compu-Data BBS -=- Turnersville, NJ -=- 609-232-1245

R>Anaximander of Xidon (Mike Huber <mike.huber at software.rockwell.com>)

R>proclaims: >I challenge all:

R>>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

R>>fantasy that first brought you into either The

R>>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

It was more Tuchman than Tolkien in my case. Really.

Mom got her MA by driving the final nail into the coffin of the theory

that Chaucer wrote The Romance of the Rose, and that it was translated

to French by two French poets (really, they believed that not too long

ago)

Dad got his MA for miscellaneous research, etc. into Western European

history.

But what got *me* into the SCA, in addition to growing up with the

family library, was hearing William the Subtle's twins run up to him

crying "do we really have to go to Page School at Pennsic (IXX) during a

demo I was covering for my paper.

I went to the War to cover the event through local participants - and

went native 24 hours after arrival.

I first read Tolkien in 4th Grade, and have just about a complete

collection of his published works, along with CJRT's publications of his

father's papers. I can point out the differences between the 1st Ed. Ace

edition, Ballentine edition, 2nd Brit. text, HMCO 1st text and the

recent final redacted most-authentic-text, the only one now in

publication in English.

I game-mastered using Chivalry and Sorcery, the game system "dedicated

to the SCA" and am one of the people responsible for crying 'foul' to

the publisher for plagerizing large sections from William Stearns

Davis's "Life in a Medieval Barony" without credit given that delightful

introductory volume to 12th C. culture, an error corrected in the Second

Ed. [as soon as I get confirmation that the copyright has lapsed on the

book, I'll be Gutenberging it and getting it into Society hands] I was

also able to identify the Renaisance and post-Ren sources of C&S

"magic," (mainly period/post-period texts based on Greek Gnostics or

completely synthetic period mss. later translated by the 19th/20th C.

theosophists, Waite, Crowley and the whole "magickle" crew etc.)

I joined the SCA because of, as Peter Beagle said, "the sounds." The

sounds and the smells and the flavors and the sights and the experiences

of period living got me. It was Cariodoc and others who *did* the

medieval thing better than I probably ever will; the sounds of 3,000

foot soldiers in leather and steel taking the field; watching the sun

come up behind a Pennsic campfire, burning off the night smells of wood

smoke, spilled food and drink, sweat and shit; the fact that we did not

give a damn when electric power for the entire region suddenly failed;

the study of the old arts - every feudal trade represented.

And learning things most historians will never know: like *how* to fight

on foot in armour, and why all of those second-hand explanations of how

it was done are wrong. The laws of physics apply - but the only way to

learn is to at least do it for an hour then watch others.

Master Iolo did not just sell me a crossbow - he explained to me exactly

how period bows were made (and the handful of differences between his

and the real thing). Others taught me how to turn wood on a bow lathe,

by building one, how fencers fenced without little wiry blades with

electronic tips, how to (well the list goes on and on)

I didn't come here for fantasy - I came here for the next best thing to

time travel and the most effective and enjoyable form of education on

the planet.

Hands On!

Aleksandr the Traveller here/david m. razler everywhere else

[david.razler at compudata.com]

From: HAROLD.FELD at hq.doe.GOV

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Fantasy has no place in it

Date: 18 Dec 1995 15:27:11 -0500

Organization: The Internet

Greetings from Yaakov.

Anaximader writes:

>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

>fantasy that first brought you into either The

>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

That depends on how you define fantasy. The SCA appealed to my

romantic (in the non-libidinous sense) ideals. It offered a chance to

play act and role-play within a setting I thought I would enjoy. It

also gave me a common activity with people who seemed neat and who

apparently shared similar ideas.

However, I never had a desire to be Robin Hood, or Erol Flyn for that

matter. I never felt the need to spice up my recreation with

vampires, elves, dybuks or golems. I was an active role-player at the

time I joined the SCA, and that satisfied my desire to pretend to cast

spells or find lost treasures.

The SCA still appeals to my romantic instincts. Here I can write

poetry, tell stories, discourse passionatly, and a host of other

things that the rest of the world consider in bad taste. This does

not mean I enjoy the introduction of non-historic elements.

Yaakov

(Is Colonial Williamsburg a fantasy?)

From: "Joel \"Spydre\" Connors" <Joel_Connors at attpls.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 08:55:53 -0800

Organization: Northwind Special Services

ALBAN at delphi.COM wrote:

> Mike Huber/Anaximander of Xidon said:

> >I challenge all:

> >Does anyone claim that there was no element of fantasy

> >that first brought you into either The Society or the study

> >of the Middle Ages? Certainly, authentic history has (in

> >my case, anyway) proved to be more rewarding in the

> >long run, but I won't deny what brought me in.

> i can so claim. i joined in 1975 because it had been

> described as a. . . a . . . you know, i haven't the foggiest idea

Snip

>my nephew then asked "is that what college

> is for, to learn all that useless stuff?" we all laughed, said

> yes, and went on with the conversation.)

> did i join because i liked fantasy? no way.

> alban, old fogey slowly going senile

I myself can make the same claim. While I like fantasy very much it had

nothing to do with my joining the SCA. In fact the opposite could

possibly be said.

I have worked the CA Ren Faire circuit for ten years. I have studied

English 16th century history till I was blue in the face. It seems that

I am a motivational studier of history, no motivation, no study. That

combined with a desire to find a physical activity that I could enjoy

got me to give the SCA a chance that I might not have.

Of course it helped that friends of mine assured me that there were

people n the SCA who did care about history and doing it right. I may

not be a costume nazi, history maven etc, but I probably come pretty

damn close. I would have to say the only reason I am not is I don't

force my history down anothers throat.

If some guy wants to be a vampire, there is not a lot that I can do to

stop him. Not a lot except ignore him and walk away. If I want fantasy,

I'll read a book, join a D&D re-enactor group etc. If I want to live the

"fasinating" parts of history, I'll go play with the peop[le I have met

in the SCA. Heck with all the odd and unexplained parts of history to be

lived, who needs to bring fantasy into it?

Thanks to people like Flieg, Fabian, Tangwystal, Wander, Magnus and many

others I have found not only history, but honor, love, and caring.

With joy, honor happy wishes and fire retardent,

Teirnion Shadauw, The Mists

From: UDSD007 at DSIBM.OKLADOT.STATE.OK.US (Mike.Andrews)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 16:48

Organization: The University of Oklahoma (USA)

I'll admit it right here: I joined for the music.

I joined because the SCA was a place where people were interested

in Renaissance and Medieval music, as I was and still am. Notthing

at all about fantasy entered my mind: fantasy doesn't particularly

interest me (aside from the literary genre), and never has. Real

life is plenty enough to cope with, ThankYouVeryMuch, but the

music is a relief and surcease.

I do other things, too: archery, illumination, some leatherwork,

etc., etc., But the music comes first.

udsd007 at dsibm.okladot.state.ok.us

Michael Fenwick of Fotheringhay, O.L. (Mike Andrews) Namron, Ansteorra

From: email at domain.com (Your Name)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 19:35:02 -0500

Organization: World Lynx

Noble Cousins!

Although I joined a couple of years after Alban, I joined at about the same

time. Further, I had actually heard of the SCA many years earlier. Now

then, what were my impressions? First of all, the SCA was definitely not

a fantasy society. The society was about playing medieval and more

specifically about playing noble. One of my early questions about the

society when actually invited to an event was concern lest it be too expensive.

I was told that while a lot of people in the society like to affect being

wealthy and powerful, most enjoy rather humble stations in life and not to

worry. This corresponds rather well with my first impressions of the

society garnered from an episode of To Tell the Truth and my second impressions

garnered from conversations with someone in Science Fiction Fandom. (This

second person while showing me pictures of Baron Patri and Lord Ivan was

rather derissive of the people in the society in general. That put me off

from actually joining the society for a couple of years, even though I was

eager to join when she showed me the pictures. She was my boss at the time.)

Basically, while some people in the society were interested in fantasy, that

was not what the Society was about, at least in the Easter Rite. Even the

king and queen on the television program many years earlier had a very strong

grittyness too them which was very much non-fantasy.

Your Humble Servant

Solveig Throndardottir

Amateur Scholar

From: howland at noc.arc.nasa.gov (Chris de H.)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: 22 Dec 1995 07:54:10 GMT

Organization: NASA Science Internet Project Office

|> Mike Huber/Anaximander of Xidon said:

|> >I challenge all:

|> >Does anyone claim that there was no element of fantasy

|> >that first brought you into either The Society or the study

|> >of the Middle Ages? Certainly, authentic history has (in

|> >my case, anyway) proved to be more rewarding in the

|> >long run, but I won't deny what brought me in.

I joined for the Ladies. Honestly, I've found

few activities that I can partisipate in where

the Ladies are an active, equal part.

I dance, I fence, I arch(?), done needlle-

point and poetry. I was interested first by the

historic recreation and investigation, having

always been interested in history. Yes, I also

enjoy fantasy and science fiction. But what

got me hooked was the acceptance given to me

because I wanted to try.

I didn't have to be the best at any thing, just

interested and ready to learn.

All that and beautifull Ladies, too? Can't beat

it!

(and before any flames, I am not speaking only

of external, transient appearience.)

Christofer de Hoyland, the Embarrassable

Southern Shores, Mists, West.

From: Bob Lyle <madrabit at metronet.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: 22 Dec 1995 14:00:44 GMT

Organization: Texas Metronet, Inc (login info (214/705-2901 - 817/571-0400))

Uh, I hate to say this . . .but I was a fencer when I joined and wanted

to learn broadsword techniques. Of course, I haven't fought heavy in

twelve years, so I obviously found something else.

Lyelf the Lame

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: MDyane at sisna.com (Dyane McSpadden)

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Sat, 23 Dec 95 16:36:22 GMT

Organization: Source Internet Services

I joined for Three reasons,

I like to make Arrows,

I like to Shoot Traditional Archery,

I like to look at ladies in low cut Dresses,

The rest of the society is a bonus. The dancing, the

comraderie, the FUN. But I always harken back to the

"Thrilling days of yesteryear" when I talk about why I joined!

Chrystopher the Fletcher

Bard-Defender of Carraig Ruadh

From: jfoxdavis at aol.com (J FoxDavis)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: 27 Dec 1995 16:34:32 -0500

Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

Cousins on the Bridge,

I guess I qualify as an official "old phart", having joined when TI was

still being mimeographed and there were only 4 kingdoms. I was enamored

then, and now, with the ideal of the knight. I suppose, having been

guilty of the crime of being only 18 at the time, I made a few errors

along the way, but the ideal still holds, if the vessel is somewhat weak

at 41.

Truthfully, there was little enough fantasy involved in the folk I hung

around with, although one was a fantasy _author_, and she's the one who

dragged me to my first bardic revel. The following interchange was between

the Seneschal of the Barony of Angels, one Lady Bevin Fraser of Stirling,

and one college student, Jim Davis, called "Clueless".

("You're going to a bardic revel. Here, (handing me a purple satin tunic)

put this on."

"Great!" I replied, "What's a Bardic Revel?" (at this point I would have

cheerfully jumped off a bridge to follow the combination of blond hair,

green eyes and big smile I was seeing)

"It's where a bunch of people sit around, sing songs and tell stories."

"Sounds like fun" I replied.)

I think it to my great credit that, upon being presented with the visage

of Edwin Bersark in naught but bathrobe and his own hirsute pelt, holding

forth with some Norse saga I could not understand, I stood my ground.

....I suppose the only fantasy involved herein was that I was hoping for

my chance for more than friendship with the lady in question at the time.

<grin>..(ah, well. The fantasies of youth. At least we're still friends,

and happily married (each to someone else))

The SCA has been responsible, over the last 23 years, for a house crammed

with books, weapons, fabric, instruments, feast making and dining gear,

scrolls, banners, and ghu only knows what else. It has also given me some

of the finest friends, best times, and, to be sure, greatest anguishes of

my life. All in all, though, looking around my home, and rifling through

my memories, I think it's been good to me.

Jared Alexandre Blaydeaux

Angels, Caid

From: dduncan348 at aol.com (DDuncan348)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 10 Jan 1996 06:23:33 -0500

Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

I find that there are a vast many reasons why people join the SCA. I am

one of the ones who joined during the '80s as a result of the D&D crowd,

but as I have grown older I find that my area of interests has centered

around the historical aspec of the Society.

Perspective changes during life. I would say now if people join wanting

jsut the fantasy aspect, there are many of the live role-playing groups

out there that I would think would appeal to them more.

Now, if one wants a more rewarding experience and learn and have fun, the

SCA is the choice I would make.

I am not knocking down the other organizations.

From: "j'lynn yeates" <jyeates at realtime.net>

To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

Subject: ANST - thoughts on what is the sca all about ...

Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 13:36:29 -0500

> From: iainmacc at juno.com

> That's the true measure of honor: If you're honorable

> even when no one else would know or care.

something along the lines "... to thine own self be true", eh?

(g)

one dynamic that has always seemed obvious to me, is that the scadian

world is primarily made up of intelligent seekers.

most have been alienated from society at large (no surprises there,

can't see how *any* intelligent person would not be alienated by the

popular culture of the last few decades). this alienation & seeking

manifests in *many* areas - the beat movement (literary / cultural),

early rock-n-roll rebellion (artistic / cultural), 60's counter

culture, new age movement (religious / philosophical)., biker,

goth/punk, .... and in this group is scadia.

further, i can see two distict types within ... those seeking

"asylum" from the world and those that seek to enhance aspects of

self while keeping other areas outside the sca active. the former

often manifests in the total-immersion "live the dream" mindset

verses the later "hobbyist". from as long as i've been inside, there

has been at best a uneasy truce between the two camps. but seems

over last years, the sca seems attracting more and more seeking total

refuge. along with this seems to be a rising intolerance of those who

are not 100% 24/7 committed to the sca. this is a concern of many of

those i correspond with especially as the "cult level" of behavior

seems on the rise (won't go into the various cult evaluation

frameworks, they're out on the internet for those interested)

problem is that scadian is many things to many people. it is such a

wide ranging environment (as it was designed and evolved) that one

can find unique things that are relevent. problem is what is primary

for me is not primary for you ... my definitions of concept "x" is

different from your's. is this a bad thing? not at all.... that'

one reason i stay is that i *love* the many interpretations and the

sometimes reasoned and often impassioned debate on these differences

of opinions (keltoi blood i think) ... it reminds me of the old

university years when i could develop and test my understandings

against my peers (the "crucible" i mentioned elesewhere)

it also is a space that makes room for many of the deep meta-programs

("personal honor" in relationship to this thread)that are

increasingly squeezed out in the modern world. also and very

importantly, it's a venue that has historically allowed room for the

radical and sometimes outre' individual to carve a niche for

themselves, especially those of us of the wolfling persuasion (g).

it has tolerated those of us with strong opinion and a willingness to

state our minds freely irregardless of the current politics or rising

star-courts of public opinion.

to those who share these borderlands, ride free along the edges and

be well my brothers and sisters! stay well clear of "civilization",

it is a deadly trap will weaken and ultimately destry you if you stay

inside those walls for too long a time.

'wolf

... has always prided self in being "barbarian" (check your OED's for

deeper meanings of the term)

From: Theron Bretz [tbretz at io.com]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 8:20 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

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

I first heard of the SCA when I was 14 or 15, reading L. Sprague de Camp's

"The Blade of Conan", a collection of stories and articles from "Amra" (a

Conan fanzine from the 60s). One of the articles was by Poul Anderson and

entitled "Richard the Lionhearted is Alive, Well, and Living in the

Twentieth Century", which gave a snapshot of the SCA circa AS 5 or 6. The

notion of people putting on armour and playing knight was too cool to put

away and colored much of my free time for the next few years as I improvised

highly dangerous weapons and somehow avoided killing my brothers with them.

I finally found the Society just before TYC, and my first event was the

Crown Tourney in Emerald Keep that Inman won for Drusilla. I got horribly

ill from heat-prostration (the hole-in-the-ground toilets didn't help

either - another thing I don't miss about the old days), got better, watched

the tournament (which was held on a Sunday) and resolved to keep doing it.

Why do I stay is sometimes a tougher question. With job, family, mortgage,

a nascent writing career (very nascent, barely there at all, really), and

other interests, making time for the Society is something I have to do

consciously. My reasons for sticking around change depending on a number of

factors: a sense of obligation and "giving back", a desire to teach, the

joy of fighting in a tournament, sheer inertia. Often times, Bia and I

find that one or the other is more fired up about the Society than the other

and that helps to keep things going.

But I'd be lying if I said I didn't think once in a while about how much

easier things would be if I gave it up until the kid gets older. But I know

that if I did, I probably would keep finding reasons not to play, so I stick

around.

Luciano

From: Rob rose [onetruewolf at hotmail.com]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 9:51 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

Why did i join? It was new and different. At least to me. Plus it looked way

too fun.

Why do i stay? That's the easy one. extraordinary people. I think that

ordinary people stay home and play payrolls and paychecks. Extraordinary

people do extraordinary things. Somewhere, i found a home amongst some very

extraordinary people. I found family in them.

Ian macleod

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

From: Dom [thunder-domi at coxinet.net]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 10:48 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Query...

I joined because of my parents. They were driving by a park in Dallas off

of Abrams Rd. and saw some people in "funny looking" clothes and decided to

go and check them out. I was about 3 1/2 to 4 yrs old. I have been in about

29 yrs now and I stay because I have learned so many cool things. Dancing,

Drumming, Sewing, Beadwork, Embroidery, and best of all I met my wonderful

husband. This just to name a few. But I think that the main reason for

staying is out of love for my friends that I have made. They are after all

an extension of my family. There are some aspects of the game that I do not

like but that happens with anything in the mundane world too. I also

believe in my heart that the majority of the children that are raised in

the SCA have more respect for other people and their belongings and most of

all in themselves. Their self-esteem is also higher and in most cases they

are a little too smart for their own britches (I know that I was...sheepish

grin). Sometimes I think about the things that my family and I could have

done instead of always going to an event and I do bitch a little about it

too but I do not regret it for one moment and I plan on bringing my child

up in it also with a healthy dose of other trips too. I am a lifer.

Something really bad has to happen to ever change that.

In Service to the Dream

Hldy Dominique Michelle LeVesseur

Hospitaler of Wiesenfeuer

Matriarch of Rogue Thunder

From: Lady Simone ui' Dunlaingh [simone at elfsea.net]

Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 8:50 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

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

Why did I Join

Because mom said I needed to find a hobby and it looked cool and after

getting to play I found out it was cool.

Why do I stay

Because it has become a part of my life not just a hobby. The friends I have

found here have stood by me in the good times and the bad. Here I learned

how to be a human being. here they showed tolerance as I learned and

continue to live the ideals we dearly treasure. I get to shed off the 20th

century on a regular basis and slip back into a more simpler time. I love it

all the good, the bad the just ok. the SCA is a wondrous thing. and the more

I play the more I love it. I could go on forever on why I keep playing.

Lady Simone Maurian ui' Dunlaingh

From: Chris Zakes [moondrgn at austin.rr.com]

Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 7:31 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

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

>Lorraine DeerSlayer

I first met the SCA over the point of a sword. Literally.

This was in March of 1975; my residential college at Rice University was

having its annual Shakespeare Fair, and one of the College officers had a

sister who was in the SCA, so they were invited out to add some color. At

that time I was in the Rice Fencing Club, and the rather battered

rattan-and-duct tape swords the SCA was using looked awfully big and clunky

to me, so I didn't go over and check them out.

I *had* planned a choreographed duel with a friend from the fencing club,

so I was wearing a sort of a costume and carrying a sword. After the duel,

I was wandering around the fair when I ran across another guy from the

fencing club. He challenged me, and I managed to beat him. I had just

stepped back and half-jokingly said "Next?" when this short, red-haired

fellow, wearing what looked like a rusty pine cone suit said "I'll fight

you, what are your weapons?" I was carrying a fencing saber and had a

costume dagger on my belt, so, straight out of "Hamlet", I said "rapier and

dagger".

We fought for a minute or two, and I quickly realized that while my saber

was quite a bit faster than his weapon, the blade was so flexible that he

couldn't feel my touches through his scale armor. I went ahead and let him

hit me and ended up on my back in a mud puddle.

*That* was my introduction to the SCA.

(About seven months later I actually went to a tournament, and was hooked.

I can recall just sitting at home and grinning for several hours

afterwards. I've been playing ever since.)

Why do I stay in? Well, to quote Robert Heinlein, "It beats the hell out of

card games." <G> Like many other SCA-folk, I've been reading fantasy for

most of my life, and the SCA gives me an opportunity to actually *live*

some of that neat stuff rather than just read about it. I've been

interested in Shakespeare since I first read "Julius Ceasar" in 7th grade,

and the SCA gives me a chance to live some of that, too.

Oh, yes, the fellow with whom I had the choreographed duel is now known as

[Don] Robin of Gilwell; my opponent in the scale armor was [Duke] Lloyd von Eaker.

-Tivar Moondragon

From: Genie Barrett <maggegene at gmail.com>

Date: July 13, 2010 10:51:53 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 10:21 PM, Rachel's <hallarachel at yahoo.com> wrote:

<<< I never post to this list or any list. Yet, I am puzzled can some one

please tell me why they joined the SCA?

Just wondering? >>>

The chance to perform and learn good music,

the adrenaline rush when I got hit in the helmet for the first time,

the chance to escape this world in a way that was going to challenge me,

and the friends I made while I did it.

This is my fifth kingdom, and those friends still fill my heart and hold

places of honor there.

As does every friend I've made since.

Magge MacPherson

Bard

From: Amanda Smith <kyrogue at gmail.com>

Date: July 13, 2010 10:50:08 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

I needed to get out of the house. WoW was eating all of my free time and

getting me no where. I heard about it online and went to my first meeting.

I'm not a very socially outgoing person so I was nervous. What I found was

some of the best friends I will ever make. I found -family- in the SCA.

People who accepted me for who and what I was. I stay in the SCA because of

that, because to me the SCA is that family.

~Lady Yuming

From: Cisco Cividanes <engtrktwo at gmail.com>

Date: July 13, 2010 10:52:53 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

Combat, pure and simple. I was drawn into the SCA by the prospects of

full-contact, armored, melee combat.

However, since joining, I have retired my armor and developed a love

of the vocal heraldic arts.

Ivo Blackhawk

From: pancua <pancua at gmail.com>

Date: July 13, 2010 11:06:06 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

At first, cause of the parties! I was young and had this new sense of

freedom. It was all very intoxicating.

Then as time went on, I grew up and realized the wealth of information I had

at my fingertips. The gold I had uncovered in the people I was surrounded by

and those parties slowly transformed into meetings, sewing circles, offices

and deep meaningful relationships with people. At levels I never had growing

up.

And like Liam says...some of them let me poke them with swords. :D

--Dena

From: "Keith Jefferson" <KEJefferson at embarqmail.com>

Date: July 13, 2010 11:10:05 PM CDT

To: "'Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.'" <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

Well my wife literally drug me to 2 events. The first was all heavy fighters

in Austin the people were nice I was wearing funny clothing. The fighting to

me was nuts people hitting each other with big sticks. 2nd event was the

Tors event I remember that day back in 99. Me in funny clothing, again, and

a bunch of nuts hitting each other with sticks. Then Don Brendon and back

then Lord Valentine took the field with live steel (epees) and with chivalry

and honor fought I was hooked ever since. I've met a lot of people that I

not only call family, but they are family. That's why I'm here. The SCA has

its ups and downs but it's my family.

Lord Guyon

From: Liam Gordon <cenliamgordon2005 at gmail.com>

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 11:03:05 PM

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

I was drawn because where else can I hit my friends with sticks (and

inversely, they hit me) then sit down and have a beer with them later that

night?

Of course it's evolved since then. But that's why I joined.

Liam

From: "Ian Dun Gillan" <ian1550 at sbcglobal.net>

Date: July 13, 2010 11:12:57 PM CDT

To: "'Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.'" <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

Why the SCA?

Because it was a place filled with people who spoke to all the parts of me

that I held dearest. Honor, courage, and integrity. That and those same

people made this super geeky kid feel like he had a place where he finally

feel safe, confident, and oddly normal, a place where he belonged.

Most Kindly

Ian

From: "Elisava Illiesca" <thebloodymistress at satx.rr.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 12:06:51 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

I originally joined the SCA because my roommate and husband wanted to do it. I had some odd (notice I didn't say bad) experiences with the SCA when I was in college, and wasn't sure I wanted to deal with that again. A good friend of mine promptly found the name of my barony's hospitaler after I'd mentioned the boys interest in the SCA and I was going to "check it out" and we did.

It took some time, I had a couple more odd moments, but eventually I found something I'd been missing for a long time.

My Barony is my family. They accept me for my shortcomings, and love me because of them. they know I am human, they forgive me when I screw up. My Laurel is my best friend, my sister, my teacher. Her husband is one of those people who I can not only talk to when I'm having a crappy day but then have him say something that makes it better, and he shares my sort of odd sense of humor. he has become the best friend of my husband and has taught Spike so much I can't even begin to list it.

I would be lost without these people now, they are such a large part of my life. If they weren't in my life, I would have to say my life would be hollow and incomplete.

As campy as it might be there is a line from Lilo and Stitch that pretty much sums it all up for me when it comes to the SCA..

"This is my family. I found it, all on my own. Is little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good. "

-Elisava Illiesca

From: "Cynthia Whitford" <simonevalery at comcast.net>

Date: July 14, 2010 6:00:52 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

<< I never post to this list or any list. Yet, I am puzzled can some one please

tell me why they joined the SCA? >>

I was a newly single parent raising a small boy when I stumbled across the SCA at TRF. I joined because it was a chance for us to get outside the house and go camping, so he could run around with other kids, play in the dirt and have fun while being exposed to some excellent male role models. And I liked the costumes :-)

Simone

From: "Elisabeth B. Zakes" <kitharis at gmail.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 7:49:56 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

I can't remember a time when I *wasn't* interested in swords and knives.

Reading "Julius Caesar" in seventh grade got me hooked on Shakespeare as

well. When I was in college, I was doing choreographed duels at parties and

suchlike with another guy in the fencing club before I ever heard of the

SCA. I went to my first event in the fall of 1975 and was hooked; I've been

playing ever since.

Between the fencing and the Shakespeare, is it any wonder that I'd be doing

rapier combat?

-Tivar Moondragon

I was reading fantasy stories and fairy tales from a young age, and

watching "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" and "Elizabeth R" on the local public

channel any chance I could get. Playing Guenevere in "Camelot" didn't hurt,

either.

When a university friend of mine told me about the SCA I was all eager to

join. Took me a few months, but a notice in the campus newspaper mentioned a

meeting to organize a group on campus as an associated group to the Shire of

Bryn Gwlad. You can bet I was there with bells on!

Aethelyan Moondragon

Bryn Gwlad

From: Michelle Lopez <ivarra20 at yahoo.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 8:42:03 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

As a teen I had seen the heavy fighters on the mound at the TRF. I was hooked

then, as I spent my childhood galloping around with a stick in my hand on my

little shetland pony being a valiant knight. I started to learn to fight with a

heavy fighter in carpet armor, but life interfered and I never went but to a

couple of FPs to watch. A couple of years later after finding myself divorced

with 3 kids and the ability to do what I want again I joined back up with the

SCA. I finally made my first event last year, and loved it. I took my eldest

and we did what makes us the most happy, rode around in funny clothes on our

horses and had a blast. My daughter wants to do everything the SCA has to

offer, and so does my youngest son. MY middle boy has decided he is an archer

and is happily learning the skill. Not only have we met some of the greatest

people in my life, but for the whole the attitudes are ones fairly lost to

modern society. My daughter said it best, "Mom boys at school push me off

playgrounds to go first, but here the boys make sure I go first. It's so weird

but I like it."

Irial

Oh and before I forget I also met my soul mate in the SCA. I have it to thank

for bringing me to him, how cool is that!

From: Zubeydah Jamilla al-Badawiyyah <zubeydah at gmail.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 10:58:38 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

I was almost 17, and my sister was in it, and my boyfriend was in it,

and it seemed like fun. I'd been playing D&D for almost 8 years at

that point and had been to tons of renfaires... so I went to an event.

It was fun. But then I broke up with said boyfriend, and dropped

out, not to play again for almost a decade - got involved in LARPs

instead. Got back into it when I moved to Oklahoma and missed 'my

kind of weirdos'.

- zubeydah

From: Tom Kyle <tomkyle2 at gmail.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 10:59:07 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

What a wonderful question! Too many of us get too caught up in what is

wrong with this or that, and forget why we're here. I'm going to answer not

only the original question, but elaborate with some musing about why I keep

coming back, even thought I've moved and it's no longer convenient to play

as often as I'd like.

I joined because I enjoyed going to renn faires and someone one of them

suggested I check out the SCA in my area. I checked it out, and found what

could only be described as a 2nd family. Now understand, most people's

families are dysfunctional in one way or another, and we're no different

here. I could go on and on about the good, bad and the ugly about this

group, but let me summarize some stories about the good:

In my barony we suffered two tragedies in a short period of time. Without

going into details, let me just say the response of the people in the

barony was tremendous in both cases. With a simple phone call, a small army

of people were called to action, doing whatever needed to be done. Much of

it happened behind the scenes, and few people knew the amazing details of

what people were willing to do for their friends. The outpouring of support

was global and immense. It was simply amazing to watch the people of this

organization at it's best.

Perhaps the most telling example of what we have here in the SCA was when I

moved away, got married, and took my new wife to her first event (a medium

sized war). It was just the two of us the first year, because she is very

protective of her autistic son (about 10 at the time). The comments were

predictable:

"So you just leave your stuff in your tent and no one bothers it?"

"Wow, everyone is so nice. I never expected to feel this welcome."

"I guess it will be ok to bring my son; he'll love it!"

and I knew she was hooked when while we were packing up she said "I'm going

to have to volunteer next time."

The SCA is about relationships, and like minded people creating and living a

dream. Being human, we make mistakes and disappoint each other sometimes.

But when it comes right down to it, I've never found a better group of

people this large ever, anywhere.

Yours in humble service,

Tomas

From: Sonja Crocker <sonja.crocker at gmail.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 12:23:43 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

In Atlantia (in 1989), some high school friends took me to a fighter

practice every week for months. All we would do was sit around, chat,

and watch the fighters. Then, my boyfriend took me to an event. I was

hooked. I went to demos and practices and the like after that.

I was later accepted to UT in Austin where I majored in English

Literature. Once I settled in, I looked them up again and found

instant friends. Then, I moved again. I looked up the SCA in my new

area and found the Shire of Loch Ruadh and more welcoming friends.

Nowhere else have I found such gracious and loving friends. It feels

almost like a brother/sisterhood. You need crash space, you got it.

You need to borrow something, you got it. That is why I joined. Why do

I keep coming back?

At this last Gulf Wars my pavilion was savagely attacked by the wind.

It was torn apart. I went to a friend and told her what had happened.

She told me to return to camp and she would get some help taking it

all down. Within minutes, I had 5 strong men and women helping me take

the pavilion down. A man then donated a spare pavilion that he had

brought. And he helped us put it up. I also had several people in Loch

Ruadh help me out when our heater quit working and our food spoiled.

With all of those things going wrong, it could have been a very bad

experience. But, with so many wonderful SCAdians there (most of who I

had never even met before), it was still a wonderful event. I still

cherish the memories of those people who made my family feel loved and

safe.

Cait

From: Catrin ferch Maelgwn <ladycatrin at gmail.com>

Date: July 14, 2010 7:58:37 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

As many girls do, I used to play at being a princess. But when I played, I

was a princess with a toy sword and paper bag armor. I wore boots that got

muddy when I rode into the woods behind our house, to battle with dragons

and rescue handsome princes. My mother would pack me a bag with sandwiches,

and pens and paper, and whatever book of heroic adventures I was reading at

the time. I'd go up into the hills and the woods, and spend all afternoon

reading and having adventures of my own - and then writing about them in

halting verses that, once written, meant all the adventures had been real.

Sometimes I was lucky enough to meet others who understood the make-believe,

and then I would lead expeditions of neighborhood children to look for

Narnia in our backyards. But mostly I kept it to myself, kept to the books

and stories that filled my dreams and shaped a little world of my own

making. I had friends in the stories, and heroes I could look up to -

Arthur with his knights, and the Pevensie children, and Bilbo Baggins, and a

girl named Alanna who disguised herself as a boy so she could become a

knight.

From the first time I read those stories, I knew what I wanted to be - not

the princess to be rescued, but the brave warrior who did great deeds, who

protected the small and downtrodden and always tried to do what was right.

I was small myself, of course, often bullied at school like so many weird,

awkward young dreamers are. I wrote myself into my own story and found

solace there, brave enough to be a warrior even if I wasn't beautiful enough

to be a fair lady. It was a good story, but it didn't mean much when it was

only in my head.

Then somehow or another, when I was 16, I heard about the SCA. I went and

read everything I could about it, devoured the history and the heraldry and

the ideals before I made it to a single event. From the beginning, it was

the fighting that drew me - not just the rush and excitement of the fight

itself, but the chance to *be* what I had ached for, for so many years - to

be a warrior, in real armor, to know brotherhood and courage and chivalry,

not just on the pages of a book, but all around me. To be in the story.

So I went to my first war practice in Caid, still too young at 16 to put on

armor and fight. Instead, I spent the day waterbearing and volunteering at

the chirurgeon's tent. And while I brimmed over with excitement and joy to

watch the fighting, I found something else that day, something completely

unexpected. As I walked among the fighters with a bottle of water and a

basket of oranges, they greeted me--shy, awkward, unglamorous me--with warm

smiles, with courtesy and gratitude, with more compliments than I had ever

received in my life up to that day.

When I went to my first event, people invited me to sit with them. I could

sit and talk about history and music and poetry and adventure, without fear

of being mocked for my enthusiasm. They understood. They wanted to be in

the story, too. I could share songs at a bardic circle, singing hesitantly

and forgetting my words, and still be treated with welcoming kindness. I

delighted in the way people called each other "M'lord" and "M'lady." And

the first time my hand was kissed in greeting by a young lord, my heart

nearly leapt from my chest.

A couple of years later, I fought in my first tourney at Estrella War. I

walked off the field battered and exhausted at the end, with a long hike

across site to look forward to before I would reach my encampment. I had

just begun that walk when one of the marshals from the tourney caught up

with me. He wore a white belt and a coronet of strawberry leaves. He

introduced himself, complimented my fighting (I was terrible)--and then,

without another word, he took up my shield, my sword, and my helm, and

carried them as he escorted me back to camp. When we parted ways, he bowed

and kissed my hand and bid me farewell. I was a bruised, dusty,

sweat-drenched, brand new fighter, and he was a knight and a duke--and he

treated me with the same reverence he might have afforded the Queen herself.

I joined the SCA because I wanted to be a brave warrior. I stayed--among so

many other reasons--because of kindnesses like these. Because of people who

helped me believe that I could be not just the brave warrior, but the fair

lady, too.

I wish I could remember that duke's name, but the best I can manage is to

try to follow his example. You never know when you're going to be someone's

first impression.

Catrin ferch Maelgwn

From: "Sher M" <runa.herd at earthlink.net>

Date: July 15, 2010 1:56:15 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

I joined because I'm addicted to fabric, sewing machines, smelly fighters (skip that one) and meeting new friends.

Runa The Wore Out

Sher Montgomery & The Thundering Herd

www.bedlambazaar.com

http://thethunderingherd.net

From: marlyna at aol.com

Date: July 16, 2010 10:41:26 PM CDT

To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

The SCA saved my life....

I had gone to an Arts Festival in Lubbock with my husband and had seen this group in really neat clothes there. The marriage was not a good one and soon ended. By that time, I was not in a good place mentally and emotionally. The next year I was at the Arts Festival again and again saw this group of people in wonderful clothes. I went and signed up for more information. Soon I was contacted about a Newcomer's revel so I went.

When I am around people I don't know, I usually sit apart and watch. The revel was in the backyard of one of the member's house. I was sitting by myself and two different gentlemen came over at different times and sat and talked to me telling me about the SCA and what all was happening at the revel. I didn't think I had anything to offer the group because my ex had emotionally torn me apart. During the next few years, I realized that I had LOTS to offer. The SCA helped me to rebuild my life and my self-esteem. They became my family (I know you have heard that many times before, but it is so true).

Sadly, one of the gentlemen that talked to me that first time has since passed on and I have lost touch with Lord Anton, but their actions had a bigger impact than either of them ever knew. I no longer live in Bonwicke, but it will always have a special place in my heart.

Marlyna

From: Sir Lyonel <sirlyonel at hotmail.com>

Date: July 17, 2010 5:16:52 AM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

A bunch of guys in dresses and funny hats and hose put me in what they said was "armor" and gave me a "sword" and told me to kill another guy who was also dressed in "armor." The "armor" was metal-covered knee and elbow pads and an over-sized coat made of inside-out carpet. It smelled of old feet. They also stuck a "helm" on my head. It was a big steel cylinder with eye slots. I felt like I was stuck in a smelly closet, looking out a little window. My hands were protected by hockey gloves covered with chunks of over-lapping rust. The sword was a five-foot long, duct-taped stick.

The other guy's armor looked like it actually fit him. He had a shorter "sword" and a big shield with fishes painted on it. I guess that meant he was a pisces.

One of the guys in a dress said "Lay on." The guy with the shield came toward me, I managed to side-step him, even though the closet I was in seemed to only just barely move with me.

The guy with the shield charged. I turned ten kan and brought my sword down hard on his helm. The guy with the shield fell down.

"Hey," said the guy with the dress, "you've done this before."

I said, "Well, I have a black belt in kendo, but this is my first time fighting while wearing a closet. Can someone help me out of this? I can no longer feel my arms."

As they were pulling the scraps of carpet off of me, a pretty lady in a huge dress (she could have hidden a small army of children in those skirts) asked, "What is your name, milord?"

My name is Dennis, but I figured that would sound like a straight-line for a Monty Python joke, and I'd already heard enough of those for one day. So I said, "Lyonel," which was the only name I could recall from the Morte D'Arthur that didn't sound pretentious. I couldn't very well say "Lancelot" with my hair all helmet-scrunched like that.

Then the pretty lady fed me. I smelled like feet for the rest of the day.

En Lyonel

From: Cheri Hodek <texastornado_50 at yahoo.com>

Date: July 22, 2010 1:20:38 PM CDT

To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] I have a question

Our son was at OU and we decided we had better check out this group he was

hanging out with. One event and we were hooked

Muirenn and Gunnarr