hilary1617
First time at the rodeo.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2014
- Messages
- 3,764
I was reminded that chivalry is by no means dead when I fainted at a Renaissance Faire yesterday.
No worries, it was a soft fall onto a dirt path. Next outing I will stay hydrated, keep closer tabs on blood sugar levels (darn missing half pancreas!), take it easier and stay in the shade!
It was surreal. I awoke to a concerned, costumed band of merry men with outstretched hands who, after being assured I was okay, inquired if I had the "vapors" and referred to me as m'lady. It involved a lot of phony accents and lovely thoughts.
I chose to stay seated until (1) Liam, my 11 year old, could summon my husband, Charles (who was down the path with Hannah, my 8 year old) and (2) I had enough sugary drink (which a lovely merchant woman immediately fetched for me) to be assured I would not fall again upon standing.
A few gentlemen sat on the ground in the middle of the dirt with me to keep an eye on my condition and so that others "would not take to staring" at me. Very chivalrous.
I am grateful to the gaggle of 20-something lords, knights, princes and peasants who offered assistance.
That said, the chivalry came in sharp contrast to a memory of another crowd's reaction to a fall with real injury I had years ago. Back then, I was SMO and while carrying a small child back to the car from a 4th of July fireworks show I fell and injured my knee (fracture) and ankle (chip sprain) in the middle of a hard paved road . In that instance, the crowd ignored us, parting like the Red Sea to walk around the fallen fat lady and her crying, bruised child.
It bothers me a bit that people treat me differently now that I am a "normal" size. Much as I appreciate the kindness, it makes me mourn the lack of it I experienced previously and discounted/excused at the time...
No worries, it was a soft fall onto a dirt path. Next outing I will stay hydrated, keep closer tabs on blood sugar levels (darn missing half pancreas!), take it easier and stay in the shade!
It was surreal. I awoke to a concerned, costumed band of merry men with outstretched hands who, after being assured I was okay, inquired if I had the "vapors" and referred to me as m'lady. It involved a lot of phony accents and lovely thoughts.
I chose to stay seated until (1) Liam, my 11 year old, could summon my husband, Charles (who was down the path with Hannah, my 8 year old) and (2) I had enough sugary drink (which a lovely merchant woman immediately fetched for me) to be assured I would not fall again upon standing.
A few gentlemen sat on the ground in the middle of the dirt with me to keep an eye on my condition and so that others "would not take to staring" at me. Very chivalrous.
I am grateful to the gaggle of 20-something lords, knights, princes and peasants who offered assistance.
That said, the chivalry came in sharp contrast to a memory of another crowd's reaction to a fall with real injury I had years ago. Back then, I was SMO and while carrying a small child back to the car from a 4th of July fireworks show I fell and injured my knee (fracture) and ankle (chip sprain) in the middle of a hard paved road . In that instance, the crowd ignored us, parting like the Red Sea to walk around the fallen fat lady and her crying, bruised child.
It bothers me a bit that people treat me differently now that I am a "normal" size. Much as I appreciate the kindness, it makes me mourn the lack of it I experienced previously and discounted/excused at the time...
. It also gives me renewed hope in some of our youth to see so many young people carrying those traditions on. I'll bet also that you would have been helped just the same if that 1st fall happened at a Renfest, even when SMO...at least I'd like to think you would. Its amazing though how F'd up people can be sometimes.
