medieval skills. Skills include arts such as calligraphy, jewelry making, woodworking, and costuming; craft arts such as armoring & blacksmithing; performing arts such as medieval dancing and singing; and martial arts such as hand-to-hand fighting and archery. Most groups host a weekly business meeting andvarious “guild meetings” to practice these arts.

Since I joined, the organization has expanded tremendously and is now a full fledged counter society: with its own government (a monarchy- with rulers chosen by combat), its own economy (some members make a full-time living selling their arts), and its own social system (a system of titles, clans, knights, and nobles). Every member of the SCA develops an alternate persona: a medieval character they become during events.

The combined effects are stunning. At times, I felt I’d been transported back in time. My first SCA battle produced all the nerves, all the excitement, all the intensity of entering a “real” battle: pounding heart and manic energy and fear

of being “killed”.

For some, the SCA is an exercise in living history. Many members are meticulous researchers- accomplished experts in a chosen discipline of history. Others join the group for its unique social characteristics-- its embracement of eccentricity.... its community and camaraderie. But for me, the SCA was an act of jubuliant defiance: an enthusiastic refusal to surrender to tedium.

I did not, and do not, want to abandon the creative flow of childhood. I am convinced that play.... fantasy and creativity for its own sake... is a deep and profound human need; one we, as adults, must nurture and maintain. Play is not an escape.... it is a celebration. Play is the essence of creativity.

We, as adults-- for the sake of our happiness and our souls, should re-discover it.

thudded: v. hit, pounded

in unison: adv. at the same time together, in harmony

braced: v. held

giddy: adj. nervous

tendrils: n. lines, tentacles

wiry: adj. thin with muscles

clad in: v. wearing

scale: n. scale armor

strode: v. walked (confidently)

cackling: v./adj. laughing (loud

goose bumps: n. bumps on skin (caused by fear or excitement)

butt: n. bottom

rattan: n. a plant similar to bamboo

advanced: v. moved forward

adrenaline: n. a hormone, a bod chemical (released by fear or excitement)

awe: n. amazement

anachronism: n. something out of place in time/history (doesn’t belong to that time period)

oddballs: n. strange people

medieval: adj. middle ages peri

strap on: v. put on, wear

outlandish: adj. dramatic, fun & creative

hyper-intelligent: adj. very sma

geeks: idiom. smart uncool peo

hammish: adj. too dramatic

buffs: n. people who like something, fans

misfits: n. people who don’t fit i with normal society

to succumb: v. to be beaten by, surrender to

drudgery: n. boring work

affair: n. experience, event

revolves around: v. focuses on

centerpiece: n. most important part

implies: v. says indirectly, suggests

patchwork: n. a loose collection

guild: n. a trade group, a union

full-fledged: n. complete, total

counter-society: n. alternative society, alternative culture

monarchy: n. a government ruled by a king or queen

clans: n. large extended families, tribes

persona: n. personality, character

stunning: adj. amazing

nerves: n. nervous feeling

intensity: n. power

manic: adj. super-energetic

meticulous: adj. very careful

accomplished: adj. successful

embracement: n. acceptance

eccentricity: n. weirdness (harmless strangeness)

camaraderie: n. friendship, feelings of friendship

jubuliant: adj. very happy

defiance: n. rebellion, disobedience

tedium: n. boredom

abandon: v. leave, neglect

for its own sake: idiom. for enjoyment only

profound: adj. very important, very meaningful

nurture: v. take care of, help grow

essence: n. central part, most important part