Something special happened to me on Sunday, September 19, 2010 and it is something that will stay with me for a very long time.  I decided to share it with all of you.

The final weekend of the 2010 Des Moines Renaissance Faire was a challenging one, due to the weather conditions.  Saturday brought us rain in the form of several downpours, which developed again into rain overnight and on Sunday, we had a nearly constant mist and unseasonable cold.

The rain caused the Festival Park grounds to become soggy, squishy and greasy with mud.  Beautiful just two days before, the grass was trampled into the muck, puddles formed, seating areas were soaked and our lanes turned into bogs.  Actors, merchants and staff members were working in soaked shoes and boots, pants and skirts heavy with moisture and the mud just seemed to get on everything.  You were all there – you know how it looked and felt. 

I know I wasn’t the only one who was disappointed that our final weekend’s weather had turned so dismal.  However, the crowds kept coming in.  Smaller crowds than we would have had in sunnier conditions, yes – but crowds nonetheless.

Now I come to the climax of my story.  At about 2:00 PM, three people came through the front gates.  I’m assuming the trio was a Mom, an older sister and a brother.  All three were wearing pirate costumes.  The young man was wheelchair bound – I can only guess that he had Cerebral Palsy, or some such disease.  Coming through the gate, pushing a large wheelchair through the mud, all three faces wore big smiles.  As King and Queen, Marty and I approached to greet them and make them feel welcome, as the young man’s sister placed a plastic cutlass in her brother’s hand, struggling to make his limp fingers curl around the handle of his toy sword.  After exchanging a few words, I had to step away to wipe my eyes.  I realized that everyone has a cross to bear and some folks have so very much to overcome – I was humbled. 

All because here was a family that didn’t care about the weather – life had already thrown them one of the biggest challenges of all – what was a little rain?  A little mud?  It was Pirate Weekend at the Des Moines Renaissance Faire!  Time to have fun, create some memories and bond as a family.  Time to meet the King and Queen, see the joust, visit the shops.  They didn’t see that the festival grounds were no longer perfect.  They didn’t care that it was chilly and damp.  They were together, all dressed as pirates and determined to experience all the fun that they could.

That family stayed until nearly closing time.  I saw them at the joust, in the feast hall, in and out of shops and their smiles never dimmed.  It made me realize once again, how important events like ours can be.  It allows people to step outside of their normal routines, if only for a short time.  It lets people sample and experience things outside of the familiar and the mundane.  It enables people to be part of a magical world and to create memories to last for years to come. 

After meeting this special family, I went through the last hours of the Des Moines Renaissance Faire with a different outlook.  I could see that we were all making a difference and that our work had value.  I know I will think of this story, every time I begin a performance day.  I just wanted to share that with you, to reinforce to each of you, the good work we do.  We may not always get the glare of the media spotlight, people may forget to thank us or even notice our contributions to this event, but individuals and families who buy tickets and come out to see us, notice and appreciate it.

Thanks to all who have shown me kindness at a renaissance faire - you ARE appreciated. 

Friday morning, June 25, 2010, members of Have Court, Will Travel will be leaving for Door County and its inaugural "Door County Renaissance Fantasy Faire".  This event will last two weekends and we shall enjoy "reigning" over both of them.  Our thanks to the producer and to all the staff working so hard to open in a few short days.  We all pledge to do our best and give the audience the best festival experience EVER!