Some time ago, my life was turned upside down by an economy that took no prisoners, and a local work situation that didn't grant me the luxury of staying as committed to the SCA as I wanted. I was forced to turn over my regional officership early, knowing that there was no way I could keep up with the responsibilities. In the year since, I have seen my local group incur a nearly 50% turn over of people, and I have been largely cut off from the rest of the region, unable to spend any real time with the friends I made during my time of travel and personal growth.
I've made a few enemies over the past two years. Several of whom saw my relative absence as an opportunity to close in the for kill and drive me out of the SCA. As most of you can probably guess, there was a rude awakening for them before those conversations were over. Others still had no true motive, but simply lacked any reason to restrain themselves from making their dislike of me known.
I nearly drowned in politics, watching it run like pitch tar through the all too delicate network of friends and family, not entirely sure what would come out of the mess once it had passed.
Ive grown older, and wiser, and likely more thick headed.
But now, my distance is no more.
This past weekend, I traveled south to Wiesenfeuer's Yule revel, and for the first time in nearly two years, was greeted with open arms, and wide smiles by people who hadn't spoken with me in so long that I wondered if they had forgotten about me. I was sought out by name, and asked to herald, and later told that my voice was good to hear again. Colleagues, friends, students and teachers, there were people from across the board, and so, so many of them welcomed me and called me brother, friend, and herald.
I am Lord Ivo Blackhawk, herald at large in the north of Ansteorra.
And I have returned to give back to the game that has given me so much already.
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
"God save the King!"
I've made a few enemies over the past two years. Several of whom saw my relative absence as an opportunity to close in the for kill and drive me out of the SCA. As most of you can probably guess, there was a rude awakening for them before those conversations were over. Others still had no true motive, but simply lacked any reason to restrain themselves from making their dislike of me known.
I nearly drowned in politics, watching it run like pitch tar through the all too delicate network of friends and family, not entirely sure what would come out of the mess once it had passed.
Ive grown older, and wiser, and likely more thick headed.
But now, my distance is no more.
This past weekend, I traveled south to Wiesenfeuer's Yule revel, and for the first time in nearly two years, was greeted with open arms, and wide smiles by people who hadn't spoken with me in so long that I wondered if they had forgotten about me. I was sought out by name, and asked to herald, and later told that my voice was good to hear again. Colleagues, friends, students and teachers, there were people from across the board, and so, so many of them welcomed me and called me brother, friend, and herald.
I am Lord Ivo Blackhawk, herald at large in the north of Ansteorra.
And I have returned to give back to the game that has given me so much already.
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
"God save the King!"
