Pennsic memories

[bethlakshmi]

Well... since it's still sitting on the top of my brain, I should put it down so I can't forget ...


The war had been lovely, in general, but a little nerve wracking as a few friends had made some leading statements that suggested something big was headed my way. But... my camp is talented group of lyers. new_man had deftly intercepted one such statement and boldly and calmly informed me that in no way was I getting a Laurel. Now, that may sound a little harsh, but in my mind it is far better to enjoy Pennsic, than spend Pennsic waiting to get some big award, so having him clear it up right then was fine.

But, even new_man couldn't help messing with my mashed-potato-like mind a bit. He had joked (?taunted?) me Tuesday night about making my life more interesting. But... upon waking up Wednesday morning, the whole camp was sleepy, worn out from many days at War and I think one or two of us may have been a big hung over. Certainly this was no camp preparing for a vigil!! So... I put any final questions of this being a big recognition war for me and went off to teach my 3rd class. ladysprite cunningly got me out of camp early, saying she wanted some ankle bells for the dance we'd been working on, and luring me out with a breakfast sandwich. All unsuspecting, I focused my remaining brain cells on the best way to explain the part of the choreography we'd be working on that day in class. No small problem, it was highly movement oriented, and getting a mass of people moving all together without collisions is enough to keep any teacher busy.



At the end of class, I saw a collection of Royal Eastern purple forming up to my left. That was fine - I had arranged with Ernst, the Court Herald, to set up awards for two friends of mine - safirasilv would be getting her Award of Arms, and the Lady Rosa would be getting a Troubadour. The problem that had me sweating? Where were they? To drag the Royalty all the way down here for nothing...aiiieee!! I know how busy they are. Not cool. So... I was sweating in my ankle bells as I closed out class, and bowed to her Majesty. How was I gonna work out this one?

And so... they got me. I do seem to remember apologizing that neither lady was here yet. And I seem to remember Ernst saying that they had an item of business for me... and the rest is mostly a blur. By intuition, I assume that the content was "we're sending you on vigil to consider your induction into the Order of the Laurel", but I'll be if I remember that. The next thing I remember was seeing a good chunk of my camp coming down the hill, and realizing what was happening.



rufinia was carring a boot-sized shoebox, which she opened and either she or Yevsha handed the contents to me. I don't know if they said "it's the best we could do", or "it's NOT the best we could do", but inside was an adorable little elephant, with an upraised trunk. He is dressed in Mughal elephant battle regalia. Attached to him is a little tag reading "Megha's Fine Pre-owned Pachederms", signfying he was a gift from dervishspin who has leaped into India with both feet. The elephant meant a lot to me, as long ago, I had found a treatise on a scholar recieving honor from a Vijayanagara king, and part of the ceremony was the giving of an elephant. Yevsha and I have often joked about his, as I enjoy being a pain in the butt, and telling him he needs to get me a BIG elephant if I become a Laurel.

After a huge number of congratulations, we DID manage to award Safira and Rosa. My dazed brain was so happy that this happened. I had a hand in planning these awards, and getting to make SCA magic for other people is truly rewarding. To be bewitched and be the magician in the same moment is something really, really special. That we can make others feel so good, while we, ourselves, feel good - maybe that is real "magic" of the SCA.

Finally, my camp - Yevsha particularly - managed to herd me off to vigil. How glad I was that Yevsha and Morwenna seemed to have more than a few brain cells to rub together, I seemed to have lost all of my spare neurons. Thank god they came and got me... I probably would have been walking into trees or something. And bless Mistress Eleanor, who expertly spirited away our precious media for dance class to its resting place in Durr's tent. Ah... to have such good friends when one is dazed is a real blessing.

I managed to compose myself on the walk back, and maybe even managed to form sentences and stuff. I do seem to remember not getting lost on the way home and holding onto Yevsha's arm like a life preserver. Well... any composure I had gained was lost when I saw my camp. The first thing I saw was the rest of my camp mates and the members of the camp Pit of Despair clustered around the most amazing array of food. Brightly colored flowers and shiny bowls and statues ornamented three tables filled with Indian snacks. Sweet, savory, salty, sour - all of it done out to the nines with lovely presentation. I burst into tears.





Only then did they gently point out something I had missed. I don't know how I overlooked it. It was the size of an elephant. It WAS an elephant. A life sized elephant painted on a French Double Bell Wedge canvas tent. The elephant was bearing my arms. It was my vigil tent.



Well... already overwhelmed and in tears, I had no option but to cry further. To be sent on vigil to be a Laurel is one thing. But to see such overwhelming love from your friends is quite another. That is the best gift. To think how hard so many people worked... it's just overwhelming.

So... Yevsha got me toddling into my vigil tent, where they had arrayed many pillows for me to sit on the floor cross legged, and several benches for my Western and less bendable visitors. They equipped me with water, and tasty treats, and Kleenex, and gave me a few minutes to calm down. The combination did the trick. Kleenex to mop up the tears, water to give me back a few brain cells, and tasty things to distract me, I was soon able to form a few coherent sentences.



As well-wishers were all-ready piling up, they were sent in fairly soon-after. I noticed for much of the day mermaidlady kept a cat-like watch from her sunshade. I wasn't sure, at first, if she was getting much-needed downtime, or trying to make sure I wasn't talked to death. But mostly I appreciated occasionally looking out and seeing her sitting in her calm and ordered universe. It was reassuring and restful.

From ?11:30? to 5:00, I greeted a nearly endless stream of folks. I got bathroom breaks, and the ever watchful Pit of Despair and Casa Moomba crews kept me fed and hydrated. I was thrilled with how many friends came by. It was an "open vigil" - meaning that both Peers and non-Peers were welcome. For the most part - peers felt inclined to offer some useful tidbits, non-peers mostly tendered congratulations. All gave hugs. All these folks I'd gladly have spent an entire afternoon with. I wished for infinite time, that I might give them all the time they truly deserved. The group included folks I was only just getting to know and folks who were critical reasons for me getting involved in the SCA. There were folks who claimed I inspired them, but many of these folks have been an inspiration to me.

Yevsha and Morwenna started putting the fear of Moomba into people around 4:00, in the hopes that there might be time for me to grab a Ritual Bath... er.. Shower and perhaps a Ritual Nap (OK, not a ritual in India, but it should be...). But I saw the last of the incredibly patient folks at 5:00. That did give me time for a luxurious shower and time to get carefully dressed. Serendipity had brought me the perfect sari - a Southern style silk shot brocade woven in subtle but complex colors that change as the light strikes in different angles. It's a work of art that I bought at a bargain from my favorite sari seller - Melinda from Sari Safari. I also donned my professional dance jewelery, and my gold zardozi choli I made myself. I braided tassels on my braid, grabbed my three tier umbrella and headed out.

Shortly after arriving I exchanged a big hug with Meenakshi - the other tall, white chick with a passion for India and Bharata Natyam in the SCA. The two of us have been long-time conspirators. She does mostly North India, I do mostly South, but we share similar research focuses and we both have a rather scientific/logical bent. She flew here from Denver to be around for the ceremony. I am immensely flattered. Just seeing her there brought tears to my eyes... again.

Eventually it was our turn. I was dazed for most of Court, I tried to tune in, and focus, but to no avail. I do remember grabbing food with Yevsha and Morwenna on the grounds that a good solid meal was important.

We arranged ourselves in a procession, Yevsha, as my herald, went first, his powerful voice proclaiming my presence. My dancing ladies followed, doing a step I had quickly taught them, which I chanted the rhythm for under Yevsha's voice. Meenakshi followed, carrying Peanut the Pre-Owned Pachederm. Then me. Then Thorson, who had dressed as a South Indian man in a white tunic, and a brightly colored sari in a fishtail drape. He carried my three tier umbrella over me. They dropped me off at the dais, where I proceeded alone to the royal presence.

After saying I would accept the honor, they brought forward speakers from each of the four Peerages. Her Highness Roxana spoke for the Ladies of the Rose (former Queens of the East), she did a wonderful persona speech, about praying for my heathen soul, for I do not worship Allah and wear such skimpy clothing. She concluded that although I may be going to Hell, I am a good person, and the she loves me. :) What she didn't say is how profound an impact she has had on me. Her belief in me, and her encouragement have spurred me on to do many of the things that brought me here.

His Highness Darius spoke for the Chivalry. His speech was short and sweet, but what impacted me was his action. He said "And now I do for respect for her, what I have seen her do for so many", and fully prostrated himself to me. That was a very large gift. Darius is a proud and strong man who gives respect and honor very carefully and thoughtfully. For him to show such respect means quite alot. Darius has also been a strong supporter of me and has offered his aid when I've needed a friend.

Mistress Johanna and Master Aquel, former Baroness and Baron Carolingia, spoke for the Pelicans, for they are both members of that Order. They have known me since my first event here in Boston. In fact, the fact that they reached out to me, when I knew so few my first event here, is a big reason why I'm still here in the Society, and I why I love Carolingia so much. They have known me since I was first starting this journey. To have them speak for me meant a great deal.

Mistress Morwenna spoke for the Laurels. Her speech brought me to tears. She spoke of how we have been friends, sisters, teachers, and students to each other, and how she is now proud to call me her Peer. Those are not light words. Morwenna does not lie to flatter or gain friends, and her esteem is not easily attained. To have earned it means a great deal to me.

Yevsha did not speak. He did not have to. His hand showed in all the work that was done that day - all the planning, the coordination of so many people, how well things flowed - that was his statement.

They wrapped up with my regalia and scroll. The scroll was done by Mistress Mika, a Mistress of Calligraphy and Illumination that I have only corresponded with and not met. The image is Krishna tied to a butter churn - an image that has stumped Morwenna and I for years. It turns out to be a little anecdote about the mischevious Krishna and his adopted mother - Yashoda.

The regalia is a crown of leaves, that hang from my braid the way jasmine buds do. A dupatta of bright green with yellow block printed vines and elephants, and silver lotuses. The ladies of my camp took part in it - I'm still not clear on all the names. The "medallion" is a ring - like the signet ring given to the scholar in the ancient Vijayanara text - it's a silver ring, with laurel leaves around the band and a pink sapphire. It's lovely, and seems fairly me-proof, as I have not taken it off since recieving it.



After two more Laurels were created, they dismissed our order. I was trapped at the foot of the stairs by so many hugging congratulators I hardly knew what to do. Many, many friendly faces where there. I have had numerous Laurel friends for some time now. Living in the Crown Jewel of the East that is Carolingia, having Peerly friends is not so unusual. But what hit me was having many, many faces who I could NOT put names to, or wasn't sure I'd met before tell me how I had been an inspiration to them. How could that be?

I was left able to say nothing more glib than "thank you", over and over. Morwenna thoughtfully relieved me of my lovely scroll. And eventually Yevsha managed to escort me away as the well-wishers were through with me.

After much more hugging of non-Laurel friends in the back of the Court, we all quietly packed up the massive stuff collection we had assembled and trucked it back to camp. The pack was pretty exhausted and we knew better than to try to retain our attention spans for the rest of court. We were too exhausted.

After removing some shiny bits, and downing a cider thoughtfully brought to me by Ulf, I was restored and went out for a bit of Midnight Madness.