Living in the Modern World

NOTICE - This article was submitted by the author for inclusion in the Arts and Science Archives of the Barony of Dragon's Laire. Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author. While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file. ----Thank you, Rycheza z Polska, webminster

Living in the Modern World
a modern essay by raven
(c) 1994 all rights reserved

    How often in modern society are people ignored? How often are people in trouble and people in need of help just plain overlooked and passed by? I remember a time when you could walk down the street and passersby would say 'hello' or if you said 'hi' to a stranger, they would not look at you as if you had leprosy or were going to kill them (or vice versa).

    It started in our countries biggest cities and has moved into the Northwest. It has taken Seattle and Tacoma and is gaining a foothold in some of the towns that make up our Shire of Dragon's Laire. Nobody sees you, and nobody wants to talk to you. Haven't you ever had someone walk by and appear to look right through you, ignore you, or should you attempt to speak to them, look at you as if you escaped from a mental facility (which of course, some of us may have).

    A mere few weeks ago I made a trip to visit my (now former) girlfriend at the University of Oregon. She had not been feeling well and I wanted to be there to care of her. She had, in fact, been ill for several weeks and not only was it wearing on her terribly but I had become very concerned. On one evening she was feeling a bit more able than she had for some time and cabin fever got the better of her so we made a brief trip to the local shopping mall to walk around a little.

    We left the car, complete with Washington license plates, and SCA and An Tir decals proudly displayed in the rear window, in the mall parking lot, and proceeded into the mall. After she felt as if perhaps she had enough exercise for the evening and wanted to get some rest, we returned to the car not expecting the surprise that was awaiting us...

    I held the car door for my lady and after seeing that she was safely in the vehicle I walked around the car to let myself in. When I reached the drivers side door I found a slip of paper tucked into the side window. It was a note which read simply, "Welcome to Adiantum SCA friends."

    I cannot tell how much this meant to both my lady and myself, how special this small token was. This shows just how special the SCA can be and how necessary it is in today's world. Thank the gods for all of my SCA friends including those I have not met, and particularly my anonymous friends in the Barony of Adiantum. I wish the note had been signed so I could thank the author(s) personally. Thank you SCA friends one
and all.

--Raven--

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