all the gratitude

This week marks the first week that I don't prepare to return to the Renaissance Festival on the weekend. It means my first year is done. It means I am (technically) no longer a rookie. It means I wait 9-10 months to do it all again.

I cannot show enough gratitude to all of the people, participants and patrons alike, who made the past two months two of the best of my life. I became familiar with so many new faces - and I know that I will meet many more every year. After opening weekend, I told several of my new family that it felt like I came home.

As far as I'm concerned, aside from traveling the 750 miles from here to actually return home, that is the closest to home that I have ever felt.

Soooo all the gratitude to:

-all of the folks who played with me
-anyone who smiled or shook their head every time I belched
-the kind words of encouragement
-those who contributed stories for me to add to my repertoire
-the kinship, hugs and blessings from all (in the last weekend especially)
-those who scolded me when I wasn't eating enough or drinking enough water
-all the children (mentally and physically) who helped me tell my stories for I couldn't do it without you

Maybe from here on out, the wonderment will fade. Perhaps no season will be as magical as this. But I dare to hope that, possibly, bold newness of it all will give way to a unique sense of comfort in the beautifully obscure. And that maybe, someday, I can hand to a rookie all that was handed to me.

Go raibh maith agat.