Okay, to all my non-SCA friends: this entry may seem a little weird, with mentions of Kings and Kingdoms. Just bear with me. This is a description of my elevation to the Order of the Laurel, the SCA's highest award for artisans.

Friday I took a day off from work, mainly to prepare a luncheon for Saturday. See, there's a long-standing tradition that the new knights of Trimaris bring pizza and beverages to the first Knights' meeting they attend. The Laurels decided (I think it was suggested by Sir Geoffrey Maynard of York, a Knight and a Laurel) that the newest Laurels should start bringing food to their first meeting. And they decided to start this tradition with me. Since we're an artsy group, pizza wouldn't hack it. So I took some time to make an Italian Renaissance-inspired light lunch. (More about that later.) After some last-minute running around, including the thought that I didn't pack my apprentice belt (I did), Godfrey and I caravanned with Lisa and Lunchbox (who I will refer to by his real name, Sev, for the duration of this entry) to the hotel.

Saturday morning, the guys left early to go to the event to take care of some other stuff. Sid arrived so we could all help each other get dressed. She also did my hair. Dressed and ready, the three "Charmed Ones" left for the site.

Okay, there was some minor last-minute chaos once we got there, but I was trying not to panic. I may have panicked a little, but I didn't yell or cry, always a good thing. Despite a couple of minor glitches, the ceremony was perfect. Perfect because people that I care about agreed to be a part of it. Perfect because they all said nice, sweet, touching things. Countess Maisie, as a member of the Order of the Pelican, vouched for my service to the kingdom. Countess Teresa (she's also a Laurel) spoke as a member of the Order of the Rose. Mistress Elfwyn was the Laurel who spoke for me. And, of course, Sev was the knight who spoke for me. I was Lisa's apprentice, so she wanted and needed to affirm that I was ready for this. And Sid got to be my chorus, explaining the symbolism of the cloak, the medallion, and the laurel wreath. The herald read the first part of the award scroll Godfrey made for me in Italian - that was very unexpected and very cool! (The whole thing was in Italian, so for the benefit of everyone he switched to English.) And then it was done! And then there was lots of hugging!

One thing that Maisie and Teresa in particular mentioned was how shy I used to be when we first met. I didn't think I was; I thought I just didn't have anything to say. But even Mum mentioned that I do seem more confident and outgoing than I was a few years ago. Could it be that the SCA had something to do with some positive personal growth? At any rate, I don't feel any different now that I'm a member of the Order. As Sid said to me, "Nothing has changed, and everything has changed." I do feel that there is now an extra level of responsibility that I need to live up to regarding my involvement in the SCA. (I'm sure I'll ruminate about that more in the days to come, so be warned.) I did startle myself later that morning, when I looked up into the mirror from washing my hands and caught sight of the laurel wreath medallion. For a split second I had forgotten that I was now entitled to wear it.

Lisa, Sid, and Godfrey helped me set up the luncheon at the start of the Laurels' meeting. I made a ham, and served various antipasti-cheese, carrots, cucumbers, olives, marinated asparagus (which won me a marriage proposal from a certain Duchess), bread and butter, and almond cookies. I got lots of compliments. So, what goes on in a Laurels' meeting? I could tell you, but then I'd have to shoot you. (Sorry.) In honor of my elevation, Godfrey and I were invited to sit at high table for feast that night. It's like a wedding, where the bride and groom sit with their wedding party, only our bride and groom is the king and queen. The feast was quite nice, all based on Italian Renaissance recipes. And then it was time to go to the dessert reception my friends orchestrated on my behalf.

A couple of days later and I still can’t adequately express how awed, how humbled, how touched I am that I have so many friends who care enough about me that they would go to so much trouble on my behalf. The little hall was completely decorated with heraldic banners, including two new ones that Lisa made for me. After telling me that she couldn’t get a punch fountain, Sid went and secretly arranged to borrow a gargoyle fountain from House Asgard. A couple of household members were a little dismayed to see that Adolf (the gargoyle) had been festooned with garlands and grapes. Apparently he usually presides over less fancy events. There were three tables loaded with cookies and treats – key lime pie tartlets, cookies of all kinds, and my favorite candies – flavored Tootsie Rolls and Lindt white chocolate truffles. Sid made little lavender potpourri sachets for the guests, which a little girl decided to pass out (very cute). Sev wrote a poem for me – in French – (with an English translation, or else I'd still be entering it in Babelfish!) along with a handmade leather blank book for people to sign. The illuminated scroll Godfrey made was displayed and much admired. Dancing, a usual happening at SCA events, was scheduled in the same room, and it was a lot of fun to watch everyone, though I was a little tired to participate, unfortunately. Lots of people came by to congratulate me and to hang out. The band (Sev, Godfrey, Sid and Brian, collectively known as The Calais Consort) performed some songs for me, two new ones they learned for the occasion and a couple of other tunes. We all turned in sometime after midnight.

I understand that Simon, Victor (who hand-cast a pin in the shape of a bee for me) and Seamus were helpful in setting up the room, and Sid got up early Sunday and finished putting everything away.

I hope that everyone gets a similar experience at least once in his or her life, that of your friends coming together and sharing how much you mean to them. It feels great, but, more importantly, it shows you just how lucky you are.