Change is the only constant. As I have indicated, my sons came out with a sudden and unexpected desire to attend SCA events again...nostalgia strikes apparently...and even to perhaps become Guild members; Rangers & Foresters. Initially there was discussion of heavy list combat..and for Taliesin at least that is still a goal, but archery seems to be the primary. Both lads competed in the Royal Round and there is high interest in any event that features archery.
This results in my having to weigh these things carefully to decide what can and cannot be done without trashing everything else that has been accomplished. Not an easy task; these things can be expensive, are definitely time consuming, and in the case of heavy list combat, provide no real useful result aside from perhaps becoming accustomed to wearing armor...IF said armor is the real thing. Certainly the fighting is effectively useless in any real world sense, being in fact a way to fail at real world battle. Humans are creatures of habit...and the habits learned in SCA combat will result in death for those who revert to them in stressful times.
Archery, on the other hand, is highly useful. Sure, it is target archery..but then, practicing at targets is of no small value in and of itself. For this reason I will consider requests for given events, weighing them against time, distance, cost, and psychological impact in my case.
I have set in place certain provisos....they have to make their own garb...most of it anyway. This past event they got away with hand me downs but that will not hold going forward. They must be serious about their participation; I shan't entertain a half-assed interest. If they are going to shoot, they must learn to see to their gear. If they will be Guild members, they must take the necessary courses in hunter safety and bow hunting as well as work up to handling the minimum bow weight for hunting...plus five pounds for Guild requirements. That is, 45# draw bows. They must learn the art of hunting. With that, tracking and survival. Again, no half-assed work will be allowed. It is entirely upon themselves.
I shall not do the work for them; it is for them to exercise the necessary discipline, drive, and desire. For my part, I am learning to make bows, making arrows...initially for the lads but that as a teaching device...improving my own game, and getting ready to hunt later this year.
Aside from hunting, none of this was expected a couple of months ago. Things change swiftly. The adaptable survive...therefore, I shall adapt to the changing situation. As I have always done, being mindful of other sudden changes that may come about.
We will attend Harvest Home at Beaver Meadows later this month, most probably a day trip. I am looking hard at a four day event called Hunters' Moon just over the border into New York state..in a Shire called Angelspur. It has archery and thrown weapons, among other things. It is not horribly far away in distance..but it does require driving along I-90...and that has its own challenges to consider.
My elder son at least has his home Barony of Barony Beyond the Mountain to help him wade back in, as well as perhaps clue him in to more events he can go to on his own. We like that he wishes to play as a family, but admire that he is willing to go on his own now too. :)
There's an investiture here in our own Barony of Bergental down the line, but there will be no archery there. We will probably attend as those who are stepping down are friends and the event isn't far off and is one day.
In the meantime, there are things to make, gear to sort out, skills to hone, and work to be done. The year still makes me uneasy...that has not stopped. I am busy with Her work, which thus far has been not only easy, but pleasant to do. I am under no illusions it will remain so.
I confess I do not understand the sharp turn that brought us back to the SCA. There is a reason for all things...and I hate the bit about not always knowing what that might be, or that it might have nothing to do with us at all. ;) Still, one can but soldier on, as it were. I trust in Her judgement.
Archers and Rangers will are and will be. An interesting thing, really. Perhaps it will not be a Guild of one any longer. ;)
People can look at this and think I'm delusional or something...but really, look around; the entire nation is delusional. You can see it, hear it, feel it, even taste it at times...it is all around us..and getting worse. No, I am not confusing it with denial..that is a different thing entirely, although it can be symptomatic of delusion. The latter is altogether more dangerous though..and that is where we seem to be headed. Perhaps this is the source of my unease.
Challenging someone's delusion tends to lead to anger..often extreme. Reasoning is not a viable course with the delusional person; such folk will not listen...they will tend to turn your arguments into the cause of any problems they are having and simply get angry. Very angry. Then again, there is a LOT of anger out there. A very great deal of it. And it is building, like a slowly filling magma chamber, it grows and gets hotter.
I may seem to pay little heed..but that is not the case and fool is the person who thinks so. Yet I am not above misdirection of some folk if I think it will help me and mine. I am a practical Druid Ranger.
There is a great deal going on. Open your eyes. If you have the eyes to see, then let them see. We must see both the pleasant and the unpleasant..that is the way of it. There is no escaping it. There is no wishing it away. One can deny it..for a while.
Siani
