Post Pennsic reflections

 

Old dogs CAN learn new tricks.  After past years of facing the harsh reality of returning too quickly to the real world after Pennsic, I added one extra vacation day so that I could spend a day unpacking, cleaning, and getting my bearings.  By the time I got to yoga class last night, I had finished the grocery shopping, the unpacking, the gardening, and the return to some semblance of normal.  Following a great yoga and cardio session, I stepped on the scale to see that I lost four pounds.  WTF?  Over a week of not working out, eating far too much fattening food, and drinking like a fish and I LOST weight?  I just don’t get it!

 

This Pennsic found me in a world of reflection – about the society, about myself, and about the directions I would like to travel.  Here are just a few of the random thoughts I have concluded:

 

 - Attitude.  I need to adjust my attitude.  I got politely called on the carpet by a dear friend about being too catty.  Sure I can be catty.  I don’t deny it.  And to the best of my knowledge, I typically do so in response to what I perceive as somebody else launching their claws.  I am, after all, a product of the Trimarian Shark Tank.  I certainly don’t mean to hurt any feelings.  To me, it is simply playful banter.  Regardless of the intent, the possibility exists that feelings can get hurt, and that just isn’t right.  People deserve better treatment, and this is something I need to work on.

 

 - Direction.  Let’s face it – I ain’t a young pup anymore.  (Le Gasp!  Le Shock!)  The Italian Renaissance clothing that I really like to wear and to make is young man’s clothing.  If I were to truly, truly, truly dress my age, I would be wearing the equivalent of either boring senatorial blacks or complicated, hot, and non-fitted floorlength housecoats.  Blech!  Boring!  Along with other reasons that I’d rather not go into, I’m thinking of hanging up the whole 15^th century Italian thang.  This may not sound like a big deal, but for me it is huge.  15^th century Italian is the very foundation upon which I have done pretty much everything in the SCA.  What to do instead?  Well, I enjoy the 9^th century thang.  It is infinitely comfortable, practical, and works well in our climate.  It also gives me an outlet for embroidery.  In addition, I’m thinking of doing more 14^th century.  It sorta cracks me up – the sewing is far less complicated than 15^th century, and it is much more comfortable and practical.  Who knew?

 

 - Focus.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I have TOO MANY HOBBIES!  On the one hand, I really should focus more on some areas.  But the reality is there are just too many Really Cool Things to do and to learn.  Maybe some day I’ll achieve focus.  But for now, I’m still like a kid in a toystore – fascinated and intrigued by all the things out there.  It really is humbling.