Well met, Chroniclers!
It's another week here at Chronicle, and we've got some good things planned for the week. However, I want to give you guys a heads up that there will be no World of Chronicle update this week. I'm going to use the time I normally devote to that material to the comic instead. Last week's art was not my best and I want to make sure I'm delivering quality material. Also, if any of you are webcomics artists or are aspiring to be one, you will probably know that having a buffer of comics to post is very important. Mine is getting kind of low, so I need to build that back up.
The Tennessee Renaissance Festival
Now then, it's not comics related (but definitely inspiration material for me), but I wanted to talk about theTennessee Renaissance Festival. If you are within driving distance of Nashville this weekend, you need to go. It's open the first four weekends in May (including Memorial Day) and it is a must-do at least once in your life.
It's not as big as some of the other renfests around the country, but it makes up for it with heart and dedication. The people that put it on work hard and you can tell that it's a labor of love. Also, there is dedication in the regulars who attend. There are faces of strangers that I recognize year after year because they go that often.
I first went in 1994 with that big D&D group of mine I've talked about in the past. I've continued to go fairly regularly every year and some of those old friends of mine go every single year. It gets in your blood and you look forward to it.
There are some things I wish would change. I wish there was some sort of covering over the jousting field seats. I wish that there were new "anchor events" (I love the human chess match, but it's gotten stale). I wish that there were more lines for Jester Chips and less lines for pulled pork sandwiches. I really wish I-840 would magically move about half a mile southeast and Mr. Freeman could get the original fair grounds back.
But, there are also things I never wish would change. Turkey Legs. Questionably-authentic period garb. Geek boys walking around with their freshly bought replica swords strapped to their backs. Geek girls walking around with fairy wings and swords strapped to their backs. Axel the Sot. That wonderful exhaustion sitting in the line of traffic at the Triune four-way after leaving. Mr. Freeman and his passion for wanting to live in a castle and open his home to people who enjoy this time period.
This year I added one more thing to that list. I never want the look of wonder in the eyes of children (especially my own) to change. Watching my two boys watch the joust was amazing. Seeing a little girl kneeling in front of the Queen to be knighted was heart-warming. Kids love this stuff. I want to see that encouraged more and the Tennessee Renaissance Festival does that very well.
So, do yourself a favor and go take a stroll through the Renaissance for a day and make sure to thank everyone there for the work they do.