Robert's Maxim #16

The grass is always greener on the other side......

Because it's artificial turf!

Robert's Maxim #1

Yesterday does not come with a return receipt.
Tomorrow does not have a manufacturers guarantee.
Today is all that you have so make it count.

Living the Dream?

What does that mean anymore - really? Can you define it? Does it still exist?

I remember my very first SCA event, back in 1986, it was a Bryn Gwlad Candlemas and for me it was magical. It was held at a church on 183 and I-35, and the hall 'looked' medieval. As soon as I stepped inside I had goosebumps - I felt like I had been transported back to a time where kings and queens ruled, knights jousted and bards praised them all.

As I became more and more involved with the SCA I kept hearing this phrase come up again and again - "Living the Dream". Finally, at another event I broke down and asked someone "What does that mean, exactly"? I wish I could remember who defined it for me because I would give them great credit for it. He started by saying, "there is no one explanation of what 'The Dream' is. Each of us defines' it for ourselves. But look at it as if it is the flame of that candle. Alone it illuminates a small area, but added with the others you see more."

He further went on to say, "We say that The Dream is a moment in time where you feel that you are actually transported back in time, that you feel that you are actually there."

Someone else had stopped by to listen in to our conversation. This person had been in the SCA longer than I had. He said something along the lines of, "It's a rare thing to have happen to you these days, but you'll know it when you sense it."

That comment got the other person going, the debate was on. Because apparently, even back then people complained that the magic was slipping. That it was harder and harder to "feel like you were transported in time".

Finally, the more experienced SCA member said, "You get out of the SCA what you put in to it. Using my analogy of the candle flame again, it is but one flame, nurtured to stay lit. But by itself it only sustains itself. But if you put it with many other flames you can ignite a greater fire. Magic happens because people, not one person, but a group of people, come together to make it happen."

I had several moments this past weekend where I had "these moments", and the dream was alive again. The first was as Rhoadd prepared to muster to the field of battle. We met under the pavilion and listened to Duncan recite from the Book of Rhoadd, a battle ryhme. I had goose bumps afterwards. But wait, it didn't stop there. One of our newest fighters, Connor (forget it, I'm not going to even try to spell it correctly) gifted with prose it seems, recited a poem that he recently written about Rhoadd. These two men were great orators, the inflection, the passion, the tempo of the two made our blood course, our hearts race. The game was on!

The second one was walking back across the field towards our camp. It was dusk, the sun was just setting. Someone had just set the fire, the tiki torches were going and the camp was full of good people. Looking at that scene was like looking across time. I had stepped back and we were on the fields of agincourt, victorious from the days work.

Here was a group that came together, worked to make magic happen to some extent - and it worked!!! I will forever be thankful for those moments. They are what the SCA is for me.

But here is where I disembark a bit. If it is our individual responsibility to nurture the flame of the dream, how is it that there are so few candles lit? Do we not spend enough time among ourselves discussing our individual responsibilities to help create "The Dream" or is that simply too high of an expectation?

I'm not talking about - everyone must have perfect period garb, or perfect period encampments. I'm talking about attitudes and actions? It has nothing to do about what you have or what you wear, it is about your attitude and how you act towards others. We had two new people there this weekend, had never been to an event ever! And I couldn't tell it from their actions and their attitudes. They were the epitome of honor and chivalry, their attitudes didn't stand out against them, they fit in immediately.

Later on, as the night wore on, I saw attitudes and actions from old time SCA members (though I don't know for sure because I don't really know who they were) that I could only describe as the complete opposite of this.

How is it possible to pass on the flame of "The Dream", to ignite passion within people, when there are members of this society who don't seem to care that thier actions, attitudes, language, social skills or whatever don't come across as .... Well noble isn't the right word but what else is there?

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for having a good time - absolutely!!! But really, does that good time have to be so frat party, college hijinx, locker room humor where every other word or phrase is F+++ or some comment about some guys fascination with anal sex?

Ok, so these things rarely happen. I've been to a lot of really good, kick ass parties in the SCA. But this weekend was disappointing on one level to me personally for the following reasons. I worked hard to get there for one (having just got over food poisoning on Thursday) and our group worked hard to create a very cool encampment. I would just appreciate it if other people would respect what we are trying to create and have some modum of decorum when they are at our camp.

Now tell me - are my expectations too high? Should I just not care? I keep coming back to the question "If I don't care, who will"? and that leads to the next question, "if no one cares - why the hell are we wearing garb, bringing period tents and going through all that BS when we could just have a good 'ol time getting to a site, pitch the pop up and get out on the field and whack each other with sticks until we can't move. Forget honor, who cares, that's so medieval and idealistic. Call your shots, why, who cares? Noble action on the field? Why, we're just gonna go sit by a fire, drink our Bud light (though I prefer Shiner) and tell No Shit There I was Stories while eating Pizza and telling fart jokes all night". (small disclaimer - I like fart jokes. Stayed up until nearly 4AM once on a camping trip in Canada telling fart jokes all night. BUT, it was NOT at an SCA event. Laughed my ass off though).

Seriously, I think it is time to light a few candles. Anyone with me?