So in keeping with tradition, the weekend Best and Worst for Highland River Melees.

Worst:

1) Realizing I had forgotten to pack pillows so I could be assured of having plenty. (See Bests for solutions).

2) Friends who are too interesting + living so far away = too little sleep.

3) All those acres of pine forest that could be lost to bring SC closer to parts of NC, VA, MD.

4) Being too tired to even remember what color you are playing in Pel Mel.

Best:

1) Travel with folks who do not mind starting early enough to allow for stops to walk every three hours...no back pain when I arrived.

2) Click, click (don't ask cause I ain't gonna tell you!)

3) Stopping at JRs and not even being laughed at for buying pillows.

4) Theo/Roland hospitality. Arrive, unpack in a flash (thanks Roland) and wonderful low points dinner (thanks Theo). No pressure just relax.

5) Really good road directions.

6) Arriving to no pavilion only to realize that Cuan and Rags are already well into plan B and it is all good.

7) Knowing Rhiannon/Alish (sp?) was gonna have a special day and then watching it unfold. Sweet.

8) Kyneburh's accessory box of doom. Something for every occasion :-)

9) Hearing our Prince and a Count say, "Let's go find some new guys to be on our team," and knowing they were gonna help someone's SCA journey just by that experience.

10) Finally getting Gen/Alan's gift here and Kevin being willing to deliver Regan's.

11) Sir Thomas-Atlantian Court Mime.

12) "I'm just here to complete the reign." Looked like it would have been said with just a slight toe scuff into the dirt and a little pout. :-)

13) Dinner. Remembering my experiences and feeling really happy to be able to pass on the way fine SCA ladies have ushered me. Seeing joy in someone's face.

14) Gen and Alan bookending us for the drive back to DC because they knew I was nervous about losing Roland in the dark.

15) A long drive being shortened by lots of laughs and true companionship.

16) Gertie meeting us near the interstate so that I could save 30 minutes getting home.

17) No migraine despite sleep deprivation.

Thanks, everyone. It was wonderful to be able to see all of you before Pennsic and share such a great group of friends with HM Isabel and Novella.