Id like to share my fond memories of this beloved friend.....
My very first SCA experience was at a fighter practice some 9 years ago....i knew no one and felt a little out of place and uncertain as to what i should and shouldnt do. This very tall, teddy bear of a man, probably recognizing our newby gaze, came over to my cousin and i and introduced himself..... "miladies, my name is Lord Patric...how are you this evening". His chivalrous display was a refreshing change, and we were immediately taken in by his kind face! He soon took us around the site, sharing his knowledge of the SCA and introducing us to some wonderful people. He explained the fighting etiquette, the various kinds of armor and even let us try some of his gear on. I can remeber laughing out loud as my cousin and i took turns hitting each other on the head with a sword, while wearing his helmet. Naturally the marshall came over and we got busted (Lord Patric included) but it was too late......we were hooked! If this kind and generous man was any example of what the SCA was all about, then we wanted to be a part of it too!
My cousin and i decided to try a camping event next....Crown Tournament! We each sewed one outfit and a cloak, and then loaded up the car. We headed to the event with great excitement, but when we arrived we realized we still didnt really know anyone so we ended up driving around the site for sometime, trying to figure out where to camp. Lord Patric, once again, spotted the "lost newbies" and invited us to camp with his family. So there we were among these gorgeous tents with our cheesy little pup tent and hibachi grill, never once feeling out of place due to the kindness of one man and his family. This was definately the turning point of the SCA for me. His benevolence made me strive to be a better person and a mentor to new folks in the SCA. I wanted to make people feel as welcome as he had made us feel. I will always remember this kindness...were it not for him, i may not be living the dream today!
Over the years we would run into each other at events and share fun stories of how we all met and what we were up to in our lives. The last event i saw him at, Baron Patric and Baroness Mary insisted that they carry my 3 month old daughter during their procession into court. It was her first event, so who better to spend it with then the folks that welcomed us into this fine organization.
We will miss you dear friend!!!
