According to Wikipedia, the Renaissance period lasted from the 14th to 17th century or from the 15th through the 16th century. Whatever the case, that’s approximately how long I’ve been friends with Danny who I went with to the Sherwood Forest Renaissance Faire March 13-14.
Those with a calendar may notice those dates suspiciously look like the dates of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day festival. “Wait..,” I hear you saying. “Surely you didn’t leave your community on one of its busiest days to go dress up in costume and drink mead several hours away. That would mean Wyndi had to cover an entire day of events herself.”
Don’t be ridiculous. I also hired Danielle Meador to cover a couple of things.
The trip was actually a reward to Danny’s daughters. When I heard the date, I was about to cancel but Wyndi realized the conflict and like the amazing person she always is, answered yes for me, saying she could handle it. (Maybe she just wanted a weekend away from her husband’s singing habit and snoring.)
Whatever the case, I’m grateful to her and Danny’s wife (who thought the excursion a touch too nerdy) for taking care of things at home while we had a great trip back to the past. The oldest had her heart set on a sword which she had slung on her hip by day’s end. Her sister sported a backpack with boglins (monstrous but cute hand puppets with moveable eyes) and would take one out occasionally for impromptu puppetry. The puppets occasionally unnerved people in medieval costumes much to my delight.
The plan was for everyone to go in costume, but the teenagers managed to pack but not wear costumes (despite one having a custommade cloak) leaving your humble editor standing next to a girl in skater chic while wearing a tunic and a blue hooded cloak. Their dad, meanwhile, was fully decked out with a pirate-like hat which he wore to breakfast before we hit Sherwood.
While there, we tried out throwing knives and axes, archery, bought daggers and swords, watched a falconry show and live entertainment, snacked on gyros, ramen and meat pies and toured the entire park in search of ye olde candy shoppe.
The moments with Danny reminded me why we’ve been friends for 30 years, meeting in the gym at Dublin Jr. High one day and delving into conversations about important and not-soimportant stuff. Since then, he’s been one of my closest confidantes. Wyndi and I are pseudo adopted aunt and uncle to their daughters and have watched them grow up to be cool (if a bit nerdy) people in their own rights.
I’m sad I missed what sounds like an amazing St. Patrick’s Day for Dublin and have been working off my guilt around the house and office for the workload Wyndi had. However, it was a great trip. (It was even worth having to brave Austin traffic!) — Paul Gaudette is the Managing Editor of The Dublin Citizen and can be reached via email at publisher@dublincitizen.com.