A Cherished Memory from Ansteorra’s XXth Anniversary
"A memory is many-faceted." The immediate love offering for those who met with disaster... Chivalry lives (not that I doubted it)! Two personal treasures I thought to be lost were retrieved; "Somewhere" on security patrol early on, I lost from a ribbon around my neck the often-worn olive wood cross given to me by Sir Henri. Whomever the gentle was that found it, turned it in to lost-and-found. You have my thanks! Please let me know who you are...
And Dona Leah gave no thought to readily digging with me through the trash, item by item (uuuuueeeuuueeecccch), and retrieving a cherished irreplaceable ring given to me long ago by Mistress Aislinn and Sir Ricardo de Pisa... The gallantry of Airaklee Wolf... Making new friends, and meeting many faces to match with corresponding names... Finding hunger and determination in the spirits of newbies... Sir Galen's call for a quiet moment of reflection on those who have gone to the by and by (and that roll call within my heart)...
Getting acquainted with Mistress Ellis; then, her words from the microphone, of the future springing "in our children"... The reading of letters of SCA acclaim from each State Governor of Texas and Oklahoma! The moment at the gate when the count surpassed 1300 on site! Noticing uncountable volunteers and workers everywhere; being so pleased with the % of Bordermarch populace holding areas of responsibility and service at ATYC...
WHAT A FEAST ! WHAT A PYRO-TECH display! The intense beauty and practicality of the arts displayed... ...being a Security Deputy on Duty, making sure gentles felt "secure" :> Thanks for the cap-de-jour, the yellow XXth A Muck. Thanks for the DoD paper, Sir Badon. Kindnesses in the marketplace... Hearing Lord Johnathan Grantham's poem... (Thanks, again) Thoroughly enjoying "Lion in Winter!" Thanks, Mistress Roz and Sir Finn, et al, troup! Seeing Baroness Gwenneth wearing her Madonnas of Ansteorra bracelet... Browsing the history display, visiting w/ Baroness Philippa, and receiving the July '77 Two Towers cartoon of our little son, now departed, Kirkwood Mountain-Gate inspecting armour, with the famed war cry, "Coke, Please!" The "count down" of 20 years (surprised as the old Aten flag was marched in), looking into some wet eyes of the women and men of yesteryear and today; with our son Lord Zain ap Simonn of Amber-Gate (born into the society, approaching his 21st birthday) standing among us dinosaurs...
Reunion with the Family Du Cleremonts, speaking of the Eternal Kingdom... Being told quite a few times that fighters still remember receiving their Shakey Knees paper in Bordermarch... ...resting securely that surely the new Mountain-Gate tent was secure in the rainfall...thanks to Ld Siamna and Ly Marguerite. Observing the beauteous retiring Queen Sara's "sigh in relief" with a smile, at the moment King Gunthar removed the Queen's Crown... (...remembering having had a very similar reaction)
Unquestionably: Between Her Majesty Sara's descent from the throne and Her Majesty Octavia's coronation, when Her Grace Duchess Willow placed briefly in my care, the glistening new Crown of the Queen of Anstoerra ... and all that was thereby represented... Chatting with Don Tivar Moondragon of the regard held of swash today in the knowne worlde! The Knowne Worlde!!!!! Her Grace Alecia reminding me to remove my leather mask (made in HL William Blackfox's characiture "fawn" image) in the nick of time for the Ladies of the Rose to move into the Royal presence... With the courteous Lord Lucas and the ladder, taking down banners and tapestries from the great hall, reminiscing, identifying them for folks who asked... the incredible beauty of the painted hangings...
Standing field-side as Ld Zain (who does a little light weapons training), for the very first time, go onto the heavy field, wearing his sire Count Simonn's heavy armour... appropriately versus Squire Aaron. I watched my baby go onto the heavy field and I watched a fighter come off! I watched my beloved grey-bearded Simonn grin, with pride! Standing with Count Barn and Countess Kat, Sunday, reflecting on having presented Barn his AoA... At the landeds' luncheon, passing the traditional poisons... (chocolates) among endeared ancients and recent hats... feeling like everybody's great-grandmother... Looking at Sir Henri's astonished face, watching Her Stellar Majesty Octavia place Her personal baldric across the heart of Sir Henri (our former squire)...
Being just uncontainably proud of Sir Galen and Sir Burke for delegating and pulling off ATYC! Regrets: ...The absence of His Grace Duke Jonathan, and other former crowns; ...missing out on obtaining a copy of the blue song booklet; ...missing Master Richard's vigil; ...messages from home that cars broke down: folks couldn't get there; ...running out of film... but images are hidden within, of a magnificent gathering, unparallel in Ansteorra. Vivat! Ans-t-e-o-r-r-r-a! Greater things are yet to come!
Countess Tessa of the Gardens