Yeah Yeah, long time and all that but I made a thing!

A Handwashing guide to help you prevent germs from spreading. You could sing Happy Birthday or Yankee Doodle or any number of other perfectly lovely songs, but I like this one best. 🤣

It's been a loooong time!

Sorry about that! 2017 has been very busy! I have had a lot on my plate and I feel awful that I've neglected my blog for so long! (I have written some posts in my head but never got around to actually creating and posting them!)
I was working full-time this summer and spending every single weekend at a SCA event - with one free weekend! Not to mention Kappa Delta Pi webmaster duties, babysitting, and other crazy real life events!

I will post more tomorrow or Thursday, but I promise I didn't forget about my blog! TTFN

Listening to: The Tangled and Moana soundtracks!

Looking Back . . . and ahead

Wow! So much has happened in 2016!

January

Cousin Cindy, Cousin Rob, Me

Listening to: The Crowe/Doyle Songbook, Vol III, "A Mysterious Ticking Noise" by The Harry Potter Puppet Pals, and The Labyrinth Soundtrack
I saw in the theater: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
We surprised C.J. with a Book Shower at our KDP envisioning session. Our chapter hosted the KDP MI District Officers Conference.
I started a new semester, hopefully my penultimate one - taking Reading 310/Practicum 310, Geography of US & Canada, Writing Process for Elementary Teachers, and I'm finishing my Incomplete for Intro for Assessment and Evaluation.
My great-aunt passed away, and while it was sad, it was also really nice to see some of my cousins again.

February

The Valentine's Viking wearing her new Protege Belt

Listening to: The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine, and "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats
Valday was an interesting event this year, I became Master Maximilian der Zauberer's Protege! (Which is hard to describe in layman's terms, but if I make it Academic-y basically he has a Master's degree in Service and I am his student/grad assistant - here's a good article about Peers and Students) - the yellow belt I wear signifies that I am a Protege to a Pelican.
It was a pretty busy month for me SCA-wise. At Herald's Pointe and Scribal Collegium, I ran a Jr. Herald's and Scribes day for the three children who ended up coming to the event! (Last year we had more!) Even though we only had three kids (and I had 2 adult volunteers! So our ratio was awesome!), the day went really well. Activities included:

• Felt banners (by coloring with crayons on sandpaper and then ironing it on)
• played outside because the weather was gorgeous
• easel painting
• washed hands and decorated cookies for the Tea (using frosting and Alphabits cereal)
• colored on a giant piece of paper
• Lady Aliyah and lady Rouba taught Writing from Right to Left (writing in Hebrew and Arabic)
• Heraldic Twister
• Ate a Scribal Snack (ABC pretzels, P-nuts and M&Ms - there were peanut-free bags and gluten-free bags as well, I think next time I would also include cheeri-Os)
• Story Cubes

I taught a Leap Day Teach-a-Teacher lesson at the KDP meeting.

March

At an event, we found this striped chair and had to have a Pelican Family Portrait!

Listening to: This playlist 
My sister was with her fiance's family and my parents went to visit one of my other sisters for Easter, but I had to work part of the weekend. I went to church by myself and had dinner with The Cron/Martin/Ross families which was lovely. I gave myself an Easter Basket containing a giant peep bunny and a bag of mini Cadbury eggs. I was still kind of lonely. #Adulthood
The rest of March was just homework and ITMC Prep - I'm always boring in March.

April

Lady Siri and her son, GandalfR pose with Saehildr on a Stick

Listening to: The Beach Boys
I saw in the theater: Deadpool

My Final Grades:

Intro to Assessment & Evaluation - A

Writing Process for Elem Teachers - A

Geography of US & Canada - C-

Practicum II: Elementary - B-

Literacy Across Curriculum for Intermediate Grades - C+
It Takes My Child to Raze a Village VIII went phenomenally! We finally got a Blacksmith to come!!!!! And Mistress Anthionette set up the coolest Service Activity ever! She made a post with little tags with a service opportunities on them that kids could pick based on their age/ability! Our Torch Award Family this year is a bittersweet choice, as this was Tommy's final year as a Youth, he will turn 18 this year.
My Pelican, Master Max, was made a Master of Defense, but I was unable to go, so I sent my head on a stick with my Protege Sister, Lady Siri, and was able to "attend" that way.  
My parents brought home a dog. He's an Australian Terrier named Chewy. He was a snaggletooth that makes him adorable.

May

The Bride, The Baby Sister, The Maid of Honor

Listening to: "I Think I'm a Bunny" by  Todd McHatton, Heather Dale's "Imagineer" album, a bunch of Girl Scout Campfire songs, and other kid-friendly music
I took Communication and Theatre Arts for Educators as an intensive-week-long class and it was so AWESOME! In addition to getting an A, I made some new friends, and created some cool art! A big Thank you to Anna for letting me stay in her guest-room so my commute was way shorter.
Threw my sister, Emily, a Bridal Shower. Our baby sister was able to come, but SM was too pregnant to travel this far.
My friend Jeff had a serious health scare and was hospitalized, I had a light work schedule and drove up and took care of their kids so his wife could stay at the hospital with him. I took them to Kids'n'Stuff Children's museum one of the days and on a sale's rack shopping spree for the 5 year old's birthday - the weather was super warm and she had had a recent growth spurt and outgrown her spring/summer apparel. Got the 7 year old a new shirt too.
I spent some time with the Jacksons too. How is it that we're closer now that we live farther apart? Our visit was longer than expected because I had an allergic reaction to dinner and Benedryl made me unsafe to drive.
Also, went to lunch at The Cheesecake factory with Mom and her friend from High School, Debbie, and Debbie's toddler-aged granddaughter.
And I walked a 5K - A Star Wars themed one done by a Recycling Group! I wasn't fast - until the second half when I had to use the bathroom - the only port-a-john was at the front of the park! It was definitely an adventure!

June

Selfie at SCA 50 Year Celebration

Listening to: Heather Dale & Moonwulf (LIVE on both counts!)
My 4th Nephew was born healthy and with lots of hair!
My summer job started this month!!! I was running the Boys Summer Reading Club at the Cromaine District Library with Children's Librarian Marta!
I made Peg People of the Founders of the SCA and they were well accepted by the person collecting the gifts for them and she showed them off to a ton of people while there, and I got an emailed thank you from the woman who hosted the original party in her backyard!
I went to SCA 50 Year Celebration as JahanAra & Bjarg and Wendy & Richard's "War Nanny" - they shared me. It was great! The kids were awesome! Although, the event wasn't as cool as I expected it to be. The Hall of History was fascinating, and Ironwolf's camp was truly great. It was miserably hot! The worst part was that I couldn't get my tent set up correctly and it leaked the two nights it rained really hard. 

July

Snuggling with my Godson

Listening to: Great Big Sea, Heather Dale, Joshua Radin, "Got My Mind Set On You" by George Harrison, and Newsboys albums from the 90s
Asked for the time off, didn't get it, told my boss I would be in Illinois, went to my Godson's Baptism, came back and had two no-call/no-show write-ups because I didn't call on the days I was scheduled to work? Um, I told you the day before I left IN-PERSON, but whatever. Have I ever mentioned that I hate retail jobs? Visiting with my family went really well, my parents didn't come because Dad had to pick mom up from the airport - she went to Israel for two weeks!
Went to an awesome Surprise Birthday Party for my friend Shoshana!
I won a $100 gift card in a Brighton Ford drawing at Taste of Brighton. Used it for gas.
For the first time in my life I got into Pokemon. I am really enjoyed playing Pokemon Go! I started out playing as something to do with the kids I babysit. We spent hours just walking around and catching virtual creatures and talking about all kinds of things! I also started walking around on my lunch breaks and playing instead of eating junk in the break room! It's definitely good for me!
I went with my parents to my mom's high school reunion picnic - I was the youngest person there until someone's millennial youngest daughter came, we took lots of pictures and taught people how to take selfies all afternoon.
Went to Nerdageddon for D&D Adventurer's Guild with one of the kids I babysit. Last time I played regularly was 2001! I had forgotten how fun it is!
Attended Emily's other bridal shower. It was nice not being the person running things! It was Tall Ships weekend in Bay City, so mom and I took a detour driving tour of the bay so we could look at them.

August

Ice Cream Selfie with Master Philip

Listening to: Master Efenwealt Wystle (LIVE),
I deleted Pokemon Go so I wouldn't be tempted at Pennsic, I didn't want to be That person.
I went to Pennsic as the Savages War Nanny again, camped in Ironwolf but spent a lot of time in Andelcrag. Took the Andelbrats to Fools' School almost every day (I had to teach my class during one of the days) and ended up performing with the little kids this year. I helped my friend set up a gorgeous wedding proposal! My tent once again leaked and leaned and was mostly ineffective at keeping me and my stuff dry. Master Philip organized a giant Ice Cream Selfie that was great fun!
I lost my job at Target, got my third no-call/no show when I picked up a shift and forgot about it -granted a manager never actually signed off on it. . . but still. Ugh. Is it worth it to find another job or just wait for school to start and sub jobs to roll in? - the latter is what I chose.
On the way to Call of the Waterhorse, this happened:

Boys Club ended and while it didn't go exactly the way I planned, it was pretty awesome and the boys definitely improved in their literacy skills and handwriting!

September

Selfie with the Bride

Listening to: The same album I was listening to in January, Wedding Music, and "White Squall" by Enter the Haggis
My sister got married! I was the Maid of Honor. Here is my speech.
I turned 34. Didn't do anything special really. Mom and Dad got me some really nice dresses from Talbots. My aunt and uncle gave me their old pavilions from when they used to play in the SCA so I feel like I never have to sweat/drown in a nylon tent again.
I had Jury Duty for the first time ever! I got to sit in a room and not get called. :( I wanted to serve on a jury! I got paid $22 for my time.
I started my final class needed for my degree, Law & Policy in a Constitutional Democracy. Long story short, I'm not Student Teaching until Fall 2017.
Went on an OkCupid Date. It went pretty well, but when I thought about seeing him again my stomach hurt in a not-good way. So, I told him no thank you when he asked me out again - for the very next day - when I would also be meeting his brother and sister-in-law. Shoshana and Casey gave me some awesome support and advice.
I decided to delete all of my online dating profiles and just be content being single, to just knock out the rest of school and not worry about having a social life right now.
I got a job working for College Nannies and Tutors. A fellow KDP member recommended working there. It basically like substitute teaching but as a babysitter.
Spent a weekend with my canton repainting/repairing/rebuilding the list field. It looks awesome and is finally in our colors!
Went to EDUStaff's substitute teacher training. Unfortunately, PESG won't share my transcript with them and EMU is holding it hostage until I pay down my balance. I even went in and talked to people. So lame!

October

Posing with the Ghostbuster's Car

Listening to: "The Monster Mash"
I saw in the theater: Suicide Squad
I quit working at College Nannies & Tutors. I expected more local jobs, they aren't happy with my availability schedule, and there is no way on this Planet that I am going to go to that neighborhood in Detroit to watch the 6 month old of a single dad who has 3 roommates who will be "coming and going all day." My momma didn't raise no fool. I was having to fight tooth an nail for mileage and the $11/hour just wasn't cutting it!
Luckily, I saw a post on the EMU College of Ed facebook page listing a tutoring job for A2 Schools, I got an interview and was offered the job! My website was part of what interested them in me! 
A mutual friend set me up with her (nerdy!) firefighter friend (who also makes the coolest balloon sculptures you've ever seen), and I fell really hard for him. He turned out to not be as into me. I had a really intense crush and all the symptoms of lovesickness. After Halloween, I didn't hear from him for almost a week and made things a smidge awkward over text. (I can't believe I turned into THAT girl!!) When he texted me that he went on a date with another girl (we'd only actually gone on one date) and was choosing her over me, I was somewhat heartbroken, but I'm weird and I truly wish him/them well. A lot of people are angry and indignant for me, but I'm neither. I am grateful for the experience of being the "dumpee" - I've only ever been the "dumper" and this was an interesting learning experience for me. I think I might have learned how to not be so ME --as opposed to just being me. 
I'm just going to see where life takes me. I reopened my OkCupid account and I've joined some different, other sites too, Jdate is too pricey, but I tried (and deleted) Clover, and tried (but haven't deleted) Coffee Meets Bagel, 
I took 3 of my favorite Kiddos to Nerdaggedon's Halloween Comic Fest. We caught a bunch of Pokemon (I put it back on my phone), met some Ghostbusters, got 5 free comics each, and in general had an awesome day!
I spent Halloween painting children's faces at the Brighton Fire Department's Halloween Party! I dressed up as FIRE and my costume had lights. I would post a video, but I deleted it from my phone and I don't feel like messing with pulling it off facebook. ;) It's probably more awesome in your imagination anyway. 😉

November

I voted.

Listening to: An assortment of artists on Pandora
I started my awesome new job as an Academic Tutor for Title I students. The job is Push-in more than Pull-out, so I work with the kids in their classroom rather than taking them to another room, although I do that sometimes, like when they are working on a test or need a quiet space to work. 
I have never been much of a big politics follower, but I've been following the Indiana Senate Race as an assignment for my class, and this year has been pretty interesting! The Presidential Race is a total mess though. Who would ever have predicted Trump would actually win?! (Not me!) 

December

Selfie with the Bride and the Groom

Listening to: Barenaked for the Holidays, She & Him, and other assorted Pandora Holiday stations
Two of my very close friends got married! It was a lovely wedding even though I had to do the Macarena.
Unfortunately, my very dear friend, Matt, passed away a few weeks shy of his 41st birthday.
I went on another date with a not-Mister-Right-for-me from OkCupid. But we went to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and that was pretty awesome! He might be someone I can recruit for the SCA. For the first time ever, I gave my version of the "let's just be friends" speech.
The last day of school before Winter Break, I got to spend time playing chess and Uno with some of my kids and their classmates and it was lovely! Kids I thought hated me, gave me hugs and high-fives before leaving!
I spent a day taking First Aid & CPR Training. So I am once again certified!
Went to visit my Sister & bro-in-law in IL, the rest of my family minus the newlyweds were there also. I took a nap with my godson, and played a lot with my other nephews and I took 3/4 of them on a walk to the playground! It was a really great visit with my sisters. After the boys went to bed we had an epically hilarious Game of Things.
I was given: new brakes for my car, an amazing afghan, 2 medieval-ish 3 ring binders for teaching at SCA events, a really warn windbreaker, bracelets from Daddy and one of my sisters, a really awesome mug from my sister, a book of short stories from censored authors, a pink jingle bell-bedecked christmas ornament, and my youngest sister and her hubby are giving me a fitbit! (They didn't know what color I wanted.)
I've added Bumble to my dating app collection, a bunch of people have suggested it. Who knows?
I ended 2016 by cleaning my room/packing up a bunch of Emily's stuff, getting my tents out of the living room, and going to my friend's party. Where we played CAH, watched the ball drop, felt old not knowing who the "famous" people were, felt bad for Ryan Seacrest being all alone in the studio, and gorged ourselves on Puppy Chow (aka Muddy Buddies, Monkey Munchies, Muddy Munch, and Reindeer Food) and giant chocolate chip cookie! 

Rest in Peace Matt
(He was my date to my baby sister's wedding in 2009)

Overall

I've managed to lose approximately 45 lbs this year. I've changed my attitude about several things, and for the most part I am on a more normal sleeping and eating schedule which has been making a huge difference. I have learned a lot about myself and what I really want. 
I came up with this list for my dream guy. ;)

My Dream Man: 

• is Single (as in not currently married at all, not in an on-again-off-again relationship, not getting divorced, or polyamory) - Legally Divorced and or Widowed counts as Single. I don't mind if he has children already. 
• is a MAN, in that he has his life together, has realistic goals or ambitions, etc.
• Smells good
• Is honest, trustworthy, chivalric even
• has Manners
• is Nerdy
• has Deep passion for whatever makes him nerdy
• Desires and is actively works toward growth (academic, spiritual, personal, health, etc.)
• likes children
• enjoys a variety of interests/hobbies
• has financial stability (doesn't have to be wealthy, just stable)
• is Tall (okay so this one doesn't really matter, but I am 5'10" and I've dated guys who claimed 
• o be taller than me but were shorter in reality)
• is Strong (not just physically, but in character)
• is a bit "fluffy" (cares about being healthy and fit but also enjoys dessert!)
• is Christian or Jewish or open to raising his future kids in a  Judeo-Christian household
• has excellent hygiene - smells good
• is Friendly 
• is a Heavy fighter in the SCA. (So, I want to be Queen someday‽😉)

My hopes and goals for 2017:

In the SCA:

• Find ways to serve outside my comfort zone.
• Complete my backlogged Peg People
• Teach more classes at more events.
• Enter an A&S competition.
• Finish and release my Science for All Ages website project in my role as Deputy to the Society Arts & Sciences Officer.

In my career:

• Take the Elementary & Middle School Certification tests
• Pay off EMU
• Student Teach in the Fall
• Graduate from EMU in December
• Get a real teaching job

In my life in general

• Lose more weight/get healthier
• Clean and rearrange my room
• Establish a healthy social life
• Play more board games
• figure out what this goal should be

2016: A Poetic Year in Review

January

When you see people you haven't seen in forever it's always super awesome. I'm super happy for them when they find their match, but when I get home again it is hard to not feel intense loneliness. I try to remember how awesome I am, but sometimes I just do not succeed.

February 

I'm an awful student. I am terrible at raising my hand. I blurt out what I'm thinking without a filter. I have no idea how to study for a test. I am dreadfully disorganized. I am easily distracted. I hate sitting still for too long or I can sit still for hours. I hate homework, and avoid it if I can. And I am an extreme procrastinator. All these things make me a great teacher.

March

It sometimes feels like I'm the last single person in the world.

I'm pretty boring in March.

April
So much to do
Don't even know where or when to start
One day at a time. . .
Nope, everything at once!!!

May
Watch Dory, don't buy her. 
Be yourself, the world can only handle one you.

June
Everything is going to be awesome.
My Godson was born!
OMGoodness SCA 50 Year Celebration!

July

Flatulent Fairies
Toilet Seat Monsters
Soooooo many Poop jokes
Sneaky Poetry
Running a Boys Reading Club is Great!

August
Busy, Busy, Pennsic is busy.
Bears are stinky.
Boys really impressed me
But Summer is almost over! :(

September
Thirty-four already?

Happy Birthday to me.

I feel like I just turned 33!

Really busy lately

Taking life one day at a time
Youthful no more

Feeling old when I make pop culture jokes my colleagues don't understand

Onward to 35!

Uniquely me

Ready to hit a home run and knock out school and get my life really started! 

October

For the first time in my life I feel like I understand love ballads.

I can't bring myself to write sappy love poetry, 

and its way to soon to mention that word,

but I feel like I might finally be 

The Main Character

instead of the fifth wheel comic relief.

. . . 

Nevermind. 

Back to the Pond.

November

Avoid Politics.

Ignore Facebook.

The Hate is flowing on 

both 

sides of the fence.

Holy Moly.

December

In Memoriam- Matt Lukasiewicz aka Lord Vegor Sobieski

You were my date to Rachel's wedding

You had the worst jokes at the best times

You were always willing to lend a hand

You may have been a big guy, but you had a huge, quiet personality. 

I'll really miss you "sneaking" up behind me to poke me in the shoulder

I already miss your awesome, random "what are you doing up so late?" Facebook PMs that would help me make it through take home exams, huge papers, and last-minute youth activity planning.

Rest In Peace buddy. 🐐

Quotes I LOVE

On Education:

Education is not preparation for Life, Education is Life itself. ― John Dewey

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. ― William Butler Yeats

“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Mistakes can be a great teacher, but only after the frustration wears off. ― Anthoinette Martell 

The gardener does not make a plant grow. The job of a gardener is to create optimal conditions. ― Sir Ken Robinson

Teaching is not rocket science, it is more complicated than that! ― Dr. Pasi Sahlberg

There is no such thing as a bad child. Every child is a gift. ― Mary Kathleen Walsh

On Doing the Right Thing:

It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. ― J.K. Rowling

“You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.” ― C.G. Jung

It is well to think well, it is divine to act well. ― Horace Mann 

Being nice is a lot of work. It's easier to be a jerk. ― Bob Scheltema 

"It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be better." ― Lisa Karpenko Rollins

On Serving Others:

“Non nobis solum nati sumus.   (Not for ourselves alone are we born.)”  ― Marcus Tullius Cicero

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ― Barack Obama

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ― Maya Angelou

The greatest among you will be your servant. ― Matthew 23:11

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ― Chief Si’ahl 

On Being Yourself:

You are intense and wonderful and amazing. . . Do not dim your light, madame. ― Shoshana Jackson

"The most sophisticated people I've ever known had just one thing in common: they were all in touch with their inner children." ― Jim Henson


On Life:

It's kind of fun to do the Impossible! ― Walt Disney

Be honest. Be kind. Be honorable. Work hard. And always be AWESOME! ― Wil Weaton

It was not an adventure; it was my life. ― Yehuda Amichi 

Just because two people's puzzle pieces don't match up, doesn't mean anybody is a bad person. ― Shoshana Jackson

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ― Jeremiah 29:11

"Garlic is like glitter, after you clean it up, you find it on you still" ― James Buescher

I am

I am human.

I am female.

I am heterosexual.

I am single and not looking right now.

I am content.

I am a teacher (almost).

I love people, in general.

I am an optimist.

I am a movie watcher.

I am a TV watcher.

I am a reader.

I am a music listener.

I am a geek.

I am a nerd.

I am weird.

I am a history fan.

I am a science fan.

I am a grammar fan.

I am a Marvel girl.

I am a person who likes some math (but not all.)

I am a facebooker.

I am a bit of a techie.

I am a singer (enthusiastically but not well.)

I am a fan of the Oxford comma.

I am unique.

I am loud.

I am an extrovert.

I am ESFP or ENFP, and sometimes I score J instead of P.

I am orange and green.

I am grorange.

I am spontaneous.

I am lone.

I am unsure.

I am someone who double checks.

I am a triple-checker.

I am socially inept.

I am a wallflower.

I am scared.

I am honest.
I am honorable.
I am loyal.
I am a servant.
I am generous.
I am courageous.
I am faithful.
I am hopeful.
I am grateful.
I am prudent.

I am someone who strives for perseverance.

I am working on Temperance.
I am working on Patience.
I am working on Mercy.
I am working on Time Management.
I am working on Grace.
I am working on Strength.
I am working on Humility.

I am a webmaster.

I am a deputy to the Society MOAS.

I am a Youth Coordinator.

I am a presenter.

I am an office holder.

I am a caregiver.

I am a sitter.

I am a nanny.

I am a mentor.

I am a role model.

I am a kid person.

I am a poet.

I am an author.

I am an artist (in my own style.)

I am a stick-person enthusiast.

I am an educator.

I am a student.

I am a learner.

I am smart.

I am a person.

I am someone.

I am no one.

I am someone who likes Star Trek AND Star Wars.

I am a person who likes Kirk AND Picard.

I am a person who likes Shatner and Pine.

I am a person who ignores Episodes 1-3.

I am intelligent.

I am a detective.

I am an adventurer.

I am a scout.

I am a camper.

I am a pioneer.

I am a scientist.

I am an orator.

I am a writer.

I am a thinker.

I am a creator.

I am a re-creator.

I am creative.

I am the person who created ITMCTRAV.

I am plaid.

I am lazy.

I am motivated.

I am enthusiastic.

I am cool.

I am chill.

I am different.

I am Gryffinpuff.

I am divergent.

I am undefinable.

I am rare.

I am a failure.

I am a success.

I am a Lutheran.

I am a Jew.

I am a Jewtheran.

I am a daughter.

I am a sister.

I am a sister-in-law.

I am a niece.

I am an aunt.

I am a cousin.

I am a friend.

I am a neighbor.

I am a community member.

I am me.

I am Sarah Jean.

I am human.

I am - written by Sarah Jean Meyer, October 12, 2016

To the Bride & Groom

I was my sister's Maid of Honor on September 4, 2016.  I am one of those people who works better under pressure, so I wrote out a vague outline of my speech on the tiny pad of paper in our hotel room after the rehearsal dinner. Her is what I remember of what I actually said:

Emily is the person you go to when you can't pull up IMDB on your phone and you have a question about that one movie you watched once. She has an almost eidetic memory and can remember every little detail —even the ones you don't want her to.

I met Emily at an ultrasound. The doctor thought I would be thrilled to have a baby sister—I wasn't. I wanted a brother. I'm pretty sure Arik is glad I didn't have a brother.

I am Emily's oldest sister, her maid of honor, part-time torturer, full-time defender and I always called her my Jiminy Cricket. When we were kids she always asked if we should be doing something. --Hey Emmy, are you sure you should be doing this? [She said, "Absolutely!"] In truth, she often kept me out of trouble, although sometimes I dragged her kicking and screaming along with me. Sarah and I, and when Rachel got older, the three of us often thought Emily had gone off to tattle on us, when in truth, she had pretended that was what she was doing and just went to read a book instead. We would unwittingly confess what we'd done not knowing that mom didn't already know.  Although being a good kid didn't keep Emily out of jail…
Granted it was the Michigan Renaissance Festival and we'd throw each other behind bars all the time, mostly so we could watch The Unicorn Dance. Holly- you've seen some of Emily's dance moves (I moved my head in a facsimile of a classic Emily dance move) and the rest of you will later discover that she doesn't really ever move her hips to dance!
Renn Fest and a community theatre production of Camelot lead to Emily and Arik meeting.
Emily joined the Society for Creative Anachronism. It was 5 years ago, at an event that Morwenna (Sherri Gilson) came up to Emily and I and said "There's a new guy in our Shire, he's single!" I met him an I was like, "eh, whatever." Emily thought he was cute, but then we heard he had a girlfriend, and that solidified neither of us being interested in him. (Arik interjected that we could've saved him from that.)
So, for several years (Arik held up 3 fingers) the only thing Emily said to Arik was "His name is Sam, he'll sit if you tell him." Her golden retriever recognized their love long before Emily did.
When Arik finally got up the courage to ask Emily out, it didn't go so well for him. He came down to an SCA event we were holding in our area just to see her. Unfortunately, Emily's coworker had a death in the family and asked if she could cover a shift, so she scooted out early. Arik worked up the nerve to talk to her and she was gone. So he spent twenty minutes composing a note -on church stationary- that I had to pass on to her. (Emily proclaimed "I still have it!") I'm really nosy and I'm quite proud of myself for not reading that note!
So here we are at their wedding. Please raise your glasses as we thank the parents Mark & Marilyn and Kathleen & Paul. And to the bride and groom, may you have a long, awesome, and amazing adventure together forever! Cheers!