in time, that is...
So, yesterday I got up my nerve and (against most of my family and friends' better judgement) I attended my first SCA meeting. The SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) is an international not-for-profit educational organization which studies the Middle Ages by recreating the pastimes and crafts of the period. International in scope, their activities include tournaments, festivals, classes, feasts, and all manner of arts and sciences you would find in the culture of pre-1600s western Europe.
I've been interested in checking out this group for a long time (at least 3 years). I love that period in history (probably based on hollywood's perception of the times…but I digress). I've been on their yahoo group just kinda lurking for about a year and a half just trying to see if this is something I want to do. Recently, a newcomer posted in the group, and I was inspired because I wasn't "alone" anymore… not knowing what the heck all the terminology meant, not having a clue what period in history I want to explore, not having a clue which craft I'd like to pursue.
So, I emailed the group a bit, and decided to attend the next meeting (which was Sunday in Carlisle…only about 15 minutes from my house). Well, the meeting was at a member's home, and of course, my mother freaked out. I'd been "casing" these folks out for a while, and I doubted that they sat there one Sunday a month hoping for a newbie to show up to throw in a dungeon never to be heard from again. However, I left the address and phone number to appease my family incase I never returned.
The group seems very friendly. The majority of them are older than me (I don't dare guess how old), with about 4-5 teenagers (ranging from like, 14 to 19). I'm hoping to meet some people my age in the larger area. I guess that the greater boston area is a Barony, and within the Barony are smaller groups called Cantons. (this is how the whole country and world is divided into all these little groups.
There's a big coronation event happening in September, and this local group (the Canton of the Towers) is in charge of setting up the event. The beginning of the meeting focused on tasks and volunteers. I felt kinda out of place during this whole part of the meeting because it was "business" and I had no business being in their business…lol. But then we discussed how to make period outfits (garb) and that was more in-line with what I was hoping to gain from this experience. Then they had a potluck dinner and we all just chatted about past events, and what people do, etc.
The jury is still out for me on this…I think I will go to September's meeting, which is going to be a project day (making a tunic to wear at events) and see how that goes. It's always weird being a newcomer, so I don't want my own insecurities keep me from doing something that I might really enjoy. I'm debating on whether or not to go to the coronation. It sounds REALLY cool, and there will be something like 500 people there – the perfect setting for me to really see what the whole group is about and to get inspiration for my own participation, if I decide to pursue further. We'll see.
Oh, and I forgot to take my phone off silent mode after church, so after 10 missed calls from my ever worrying mother, she called the house looking for me. I feel bad. She freaked out and said she cried in the back yard. She said if they didn't answer the phone at the house, the Emcor truck would be in the driveway. Apparently I didn't tell her the meeting was from 3-6. Well, at least I gave her their number...and didn't I feel like a total moron when she called their house??? Well, I'm alive and well (and well fed, from the potluck). Maybe I'd like to pursue cooking in the middle ages...
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