Renaissance Festival War Stories Aug 31-Sept 2, 2024

Continued from Weekend 2...

When you work a muggle job during the week and a 10+ hour week during the three-day weekend, things can become blurry. You would think I could remember more over 30 hours of performing, but some how, I don't. But here's what I do recall and enjoy.

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Guilding the Deer

I forgot to take a picture of it, so here is a cropped image. Under my hair and glasses chain is The Troubadour Guild medallion I earned this weekend.

New this year at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, if you learn a song that was written and composed prior to 1900, share the origins of it, who wrote it, and why it is important to you and then PERFORM it, you are inducted into the guild with this beautiful pewter medallion. And here's the kicker, anyone who displays it is honor-bound to perform it when requested.

This weekend I pulled a song from my mental archive, learned the history of it and with my choice, made the Guild Master, Sarah Heller laugh.

I was never a good student, and when it comes to talent- I have great enthusiasm. This was something I could do. I was scared to do it because of the high-level talent that is always around me. Greatness comes from shining up your mediocrity when someone else's good didn't feel brave enough to do it. I'm still not good, but boy does my mediocrity shine!

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It's what brothers do

One of my favorite hobbies in the off-season is looking for new garb pieces. I do a lot of shopping off the rack and thrifting. I have made, maybe, only two or three pieces over the last 20 years. In the last year, I have picked up pieces in silk, linen, cotton, and cashmere from Thread up. One of my favorite new pieces was a new cashmere sweater poncho-shawl. I was so excited. for it. I wore it once Sunday morning, and by 9:15, I was already too warm to keep wearing it. As I was taking it off, Nestor expressed being cold, so I tossed it to him. And I would be damned if my sweater didn't look better on him than than me.

Next thing I know, Nestor is telling me I'm not getting my sweater back, "It's what brothers do," he says.

"It's cashmere! I'm not giving you my sweater." A couple days later, I send Nestor a couple links for similar cashmere ponchos. Nestor says they're not his style. "I don't think you understand. If I end up with one of these new ones, I am okay with parting with the one that looks better on you than me." A day or two later, I see my referral code has been used. I guess Nestor and I are both getting new sweaters - or secondhand ones.

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I now pronounce you...

While I happen to be an ordained minister in the state of Minnesota, sometimes the opportunity for a 'wedding,' presents itself. Two patrons, who did not know each other in our audience spoke. One, Ian, gave the other, Todd, an origami ring. Ian put it on his left ring finger. I couldn't believe the generosity of these people in the audience and the clear placement of putting it on that finger on his hand. I asked, "Todd, do you accept this ring from Ian?" He agree, specifically saying 'I do.' "Ian, you give your ring to Todd?" He agreed. "Will you two high five?" They did. "I now pronounce you new best friends."

As an ordained officiant in Minnesota, it's binding. There were witnesses, including one of Todd's friends. I could have pronounced them married; I thought best friends was the right choice.

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Three days. 30+ hours entertaining. And we are not quite half-way through the season.

See you in weekend 4...