During the summer of 1987 my sister had taken to disappearing over the weekends.
At first I didn’t notice I was fifteen and had other things in my life more
important than the comming and going of my older sister. I’m not sure when I
noticed her comming in sunday afternoons exhausted and smelling of campfire and
sunscreen but eventually I did. I can’t say I begged her to tell me why or even
if she told me. Those memories are lost. But in October of that year she asked
me to go with her and I happily accepted and the next few days were a whirlwind
of activity for me. I met many people that week who would eventually become dear
friends. By the time friday rolled around I was bursting with excitement and I’m
sure driving my sister crazy. It was my first SCA event and the only thing that
damped my excitement was the fact I was to share a tent with someone I had never
met. Little did I know that I would be meeting my best friend. I remember it
being a long drive with the miles bluring together and arriving late in the
afternoon. As we set up I could not help but notice the girl with the dark hair
and mischievous smile, but despite myself I could not bring myself to speak to
her. That is until I was told that she would be my tent mate for the weekend and
we were introduced. One look ino those eyes the color of an autumn forest and I
was sunk. I knew from that instant I wanted to be near this girl that she would
be apart of my life in some way for all the rest of my days. But being an
awkward teen and wanting to cover my shyness I introduced myself “Hi I’m an
asswhole you’ll get used to it.” I know now that was not the best choice of
words and it has both haunted and amused me over the years. Her name was
Treásach and she amazed me and hated me from the start. So what else can a boy
infatuated with a girl do? I pestered her all weekend just to have a reason to
be near her. We spent the first night in the tent sleeping head to toe. But as
the weekend flew by we did eventually become friends and spent many more days
together after that weekend. I would walk across town just to spend an hour with
her. But as things happened in our lives I lost touch with that girl I would
steal away to dance with me in the park. Years past and we moved through our
lives each of us married and had children of our own. Then one day we found each
other again. I was happy to find her at that park where we had spent time as
kids together. I had no idea that she would even remember me. But even after
almost a decade she knew me even before she saw me. “Hey brat” is all I said as
I walked up behind her and in an instant she was in my arms. That was twelve
years ago, we made a good try at life, but in the end we had to admit we were
never meant to be. I can’t say we remained friends, but we stay in contact and
do our best to be good parents to our daughter. It’s better this way and what a
great memory we have.
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