SCA in 2008

 

 

In thinking about it, I have a lot of line-items crossed off of my SCA “To Do” list in 2007, the most recent being the completion of the royal signature project for the scribe armarius.  One interesting thing about Caid – so much happens outside of events.  Because Trimarian events are almost entirely full weekend events, much happens at the events themselves.  With Caid being mostly a daytrip kingdom – a heckuvalot of the structure and planning happens outside of events, whether it be at guild meetings, or other types of gatherings.  It is interesting, but makes it so that I don’t get to see as many people as I would like all at once.  Rather, I see pockets of people here and there.  I look forward to wrapping up my obligations to my Kingdom office and handing it off in June, before taking on my next obligation within the same month (I know – DOOFUS!). 

 

I have enjoyed being KMOAS for Caid, and learning the differences between the kingdoms.  I have enjoyed learning as much as I have about Collegium and Pentathlon.  Both are complicated mechanisms, but really cool.  The duties and challenges of office this go-around honestly do not hold a candle to the challenges I faced previously, ten plus years ago.  Frankly, I’m very happy about that.  At this point in my life, I just do not have the time and energy that this job took last time around.  Being the Trimarian KMOAS was rough.  My predecessor did a lot of work – no question about it.  But I feel I can fairly say, without sounding too critical, that his vision of the direction of the SCA was VASTLY different from my own.  Still fondly ensconced in the fantasy elements of the SCA’s early beginnings, my predecessor placed a lot of emphasis on fantasy – actively encouraging artists to be 100% imaginative – not just in terms of execution, but also finished product.  During his tenure, I remember walking into an A&S hall full of entries that sent shivers up and down my spine – and not in a good way.  Among other things that I judged that day, I got to spend time on a rug-hooking of a map of middle earth, and a “stained-glassed-window” made of oven-bake plastic.  And yes, there were even weirder things than that. 

 

My predecessor did just about everything in his power to prevent me from being his successor, knowing full well that I would do everything I could to change things.  But, being the only weirdo to raise his hand, I got the job.  Among the “radical” changes that I enacted when I assumed the office, I insisted that fantasy items no longer be allowed, and that emphasis be placed back on documentation and upon history.  Did I get branded as a “period-nazi”?  Heck ya.  Did some groups actively boycott A&S competitions?  Heck ya.  To be perfectly honest, it was quite unpleasant for most of the time I was in office.  And more than just a few times, I headed off for a private cry.  It sucked – it really did.  I put in a lot of work, and got beat up through most of it.  Even the King and Queen upon my step-down couldn’t muster up the intestinal fortitude to say “thank you” for putting things back on track.  Of course, the arts weren’t fighting, so why would they care?  Heck, he was a squire who only wanted to become a Knight, and she only showed up for about three or four events during her reign.  What WAS I thinking?  ARGH!

 

But the good news is, eventually… things did get back on track.  Eventually, people who had never tried to do research learned that it was not Really Big And Scary.  Eventually, people who may never have tried to do things as they had been done learned that they really could.  I recall the first art-sci during my tenure – there were less than 30 entries.  I felt very defeated by that point.  Just as I went back to my cabin very upset and ready to just chuck the whole thing, a woman whom I somewhat recognized approached me wanting to talk.  I really was not in the mood, but she insisted.  She told me that when I took over the office, she came to me to complain about problems with the system.  She told me that early on she had told me that she was ready to quit the SCA.  She told me that I had assured her that I would do whatever I could to make things better.  Through tears, she told me that she decided to once again give it a shot – she entered, and she received what she had always wanted – good, constructive commentary, and useful feedback.  Through tears, she told me that I had made her a promise, and that I had delivered.  And for that, she just wanted to thank me.  I began to cry, and we hugged.  Years later, after my coming to Caid in fact, she would eventually receive the invitation to the Order of the Laurel. 

 

By the end of my tenure, and in the years since, I saw the arts and entries in Trimaris hold their own against any other kingdom.  Having gone through that freaky time, I am VERY thankful that Caid’s expectation of the arts was already on track, and pretty darned stable when I stepped into office.  This time around, the office has been little maintenance, and a joy of enthusiasm and wonderful people to work with.

 

Looking back, I just don’t know if I have the same fight left in me anymore – not like I once had.  One thing about the SCA – as wonderful as it can be, sometimes the work sucks the life out of ya.  People can be so passionate about things.  Whether right, wrong, or whatever, I have to admire the passion.  Over the years, my own passion for how things *should* be has led me to some wonderful experiences, and some not-so-wonderful ones.  Some of these experiences have ended friendships, while others have cemented them. 

 

In the offices that I have held and the responsibilities that I have taken on, I have done what I believe needed to be done to keep things in order, and when appropriate, to make things better.  I feel pretty confident that I have always handed an office over in an organized and orderly state – often with my successor having advantages that I did not have.  Yet, at this point in my SCA experience, I no longer have quite the same energy or drive that I once had.  Thus, a major shift in my thinking – I no longer jump into a duty that I feel “needs” to be done.  Instead, my efforts go towards what I “want” to do.  Most often, this involves something artsy, whether it be a project or teaching.  Every now and again, I will take on some form of administrivia, because it seems interesting.  Is this a bad thing?  On the one-hand, I know that my contributions in the past have been much higher than what they are now.  On the other hand, I feel more stable now.  Am I overthinking this too much?

 

My goals for 2008 in the SCA…

 

 - continue making art.

 - continue to teach.

 - hopefully find more artsy types that want to actually LEARN what I have learned, so that they too can teach others.

 - take on ONLY one office at a time – and only if I WANT to do it.

 - decide what things I would like to see happen in Caid, and not bitch about them not happening UNLESS and UNTIL I come up with enough time and strength to work towards them happening.

A sunny-eyed, misty view into 2008

A sunny-eyed, misty view into 2008

 

Stepping out the door this morning to make the quick sprint to work, the crisp bite of winter bit like a…like a…like a crisp, wintery thing.  It took winter a while to really hit So Cal.  But once it did, it decided to pounce upon us much like a sheepdog climbing out of a cold pool, hurling himself onto the dry and comfortable bed.  BLECH!  One thing about this point in my life – I am becoming more keenly aware of winter – with every ache, pain, and swollen joint.  This isn’t a complaint, but rather an observation.  I would like to think of aging as a journey into a NEW phase, rather than as the passing of an OLD one.  Will I grow older gracefully?  Only time will tell.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I wouldn’t want to go back to my 20’s for anything.  GODS, I was stupid then.  With a little bit of luck, I will learn to age gracefully.  Ah, but I digress…

 

As the champagne chills, and we all count the minutes of the workday before heading to our various stations of celebration, many people (myself included) find themselves in a state of nostalgia.  2007… what can one say?  Good, bad, or somewhere in the middle, 2007 was anything but boring.  For so many, this year brought about sudden and harsh change. 

 

In terms of weather and nature, 2007 was freaky.  While we did not see the likes of Katrina again, other natural phenomena took their toll.  Landslides/mudslides did their usual number here in So Cal.  Much more close-to-home, the wildfires caused much stress and heartbreak. 

 

On a political front, tension in the middle east has grown and grown, while what little faith existed in the government of Dubya has faded and faded.  Much of the world has woken up to the reality of global warming and the impact of our own poisoning of the planet.  Real estate markets have inflated, crashed, and begun to recover.  And overpopulation continues to grow out of control.

 

On a personal domestic front – I STILL can’t get married.  Hey Massachusettsians… can you help remind the rest of the country that you did NOT sink beneath the waves after recognizing gay marriage?  Hey married folk out there, can you kindly point out to the powers that be that you are NOT threatened by the idea of me n’ Paul getting’ hitched?  SHEESH!

 

Despite the tumults and turmoils, 2007 also brought positive change.  Paul and I have grown stronger together, learning with the passing of every day a little bit more about how the other one ticks.  The house increasingly moves from simply “house” to “home,” as the levels of “incomplete” begin to give way to finished beauty.  BTW, look for us in the June and November issues of Victorian Homes magazine in 2008.  WooHOO!

 

In terms of friendships, I believe I have seen a continual growth of acquaintances, a stability of friendships, and only a few losses.  I can think of one particular friendship bridge that burned in 2007.  I didn’t burn the bridge, per se, but I did intentionally light the discussion fire leaving it to the other party to either be an adult and address reality, or burn it down.  He set the bridge ablaze, and I honestly do not feel particular sad about it.  One less drama queen in my life – too bad, so sad.  I have no room or interest for drama in my life anymore.

 

So what about 2008?

 

I hope to make some more house progress, including a redesign of the landscape of the front yard.  I also hope to have more low-key social times at the house with friends that do NOT involve huge cooking extravaganzas and planning.  Sometimes, an easy-get-together actually is more enjoyable.

 

I look forward to new adventures with my hubby – traveling to places that we’ve never been to – doing things we’ve never done.

 

On a personal-front, I am hoping to continue in my endeavor to be less critical of myself and others.  I still catch myself doing it, and feel like I have a long way to go.  But, life is a journey of steps, after all.

 

Happy New Year one and all!  Be safe.  Be happy.