Land of the Rising Sun

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Off to Japan in a week and a half, Gareth's pick this year. Expensive. Wonderful. Too much to do! It is the hardest trip I have had to prepare for, so much information out there, and hard to find the gems of wisdom required to make the big decisions about how to spend your precious time in this place of ancient traditions and modern wonders. The language barrier is going to be intimidating as no other place I have visited, the written word included. It will likely tax my non verbal skills, and should be amusing were anyone to watch me fumble my way through the many attempts ahead of me.

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We have rented several Hayao Miyazaki films (Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away was out, but we've seen it), as we are going to visit his Ghibli Museum, where we can spend some time in child-like play and look at the world with wonder. This is a good lesson I hope to keep with me throughout the trip, and if I could keep it for my whole life that would be a boon I would be ever thankful for. I will look to give myself this gift in each moment, and sometimes I will succeed, and that is good. My little ones don't know that there's a giant robot from Castle in the Sky on the rooftop garden of the museum, I willl save that suprise for them to discover.

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Shortly after our experience of zen rock gardens, buddhist temples, bustling, crowded train rides, and culinary adventures, I will be on my way to the Great Pennsic War. Anyone want to go? There should be a good number of my dear friends on the field of battle this year, it proposes to be an unusually good war. Earl Seosaidh, Knight of the SCA, patriarch of the Blacksword Household, who was my leader in battle, and mentor off the field for many years, has returned to take up the sword once again. This is a time of renewal, and perhaps as so many of us gathered to his call to arms all those years, some of us will answer it again.

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Was the last time we were at Pennsic together the time when we marched in Spartan ranks, shields on weary arms, to a standing ovation along the road home from the woods battle? I don't think I have ever had a prouder moment, or have ever felt such wonder in pulling some semblance of victory from defeat. Our final charge across the woods will ever be in my mind as one of the best moments of my life, even though it was not until the Queen of the East Kingdom came to address us as we lay exhausted and frustrated next to the field of battle, victory having been only a handsbreadth away, that I knew it to be something other than disappointment. To have the Queen of the opposing army tell you that she was inspired by your deeds is a singular moment. I could not tell you what she said, only that it affected me deeply, and that it was well done for here to take a moment and give us such a grand day, and take our lowest moment and make it our highest. Such is the power of a lady in the world of chivalry. It is a blessing to be in such a brotherhood, and know that great things were done because we stood together, we strove side by side against overwhelming odds, and that the world does not require us to win to feel greatness.

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Much to do, much to do. I have many plans for new gear, and precious little time. If you look for me, I will be with needle and thread, fire and clay, hammer and metal, pen and paper.

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Be well