Tag: costumes

Renaissance Faire


Queen Elizabeth

I went to the Renaissance Faire in Bristol, Wisconsin, in August. I enjoy going every year because I love the entertainment and the ambience of the venue. I used to go with friends or family. I even went on a first date to the Ren Faire. There was no second date. I’ll explain later.

The last few years, I went alone. I couldn’t find anyone who would go with me. I really wanted to return to the Ren Faire, so I went alone. Why should I miss out on this great event just because no one will go with me? The people I asked to ge with me thought I was weird, or that the Ren Faire was weird. I enjoy watching all the shows and watching the spectators enjoy the show.

Some people enjoy dressing up in Renaissance costumes. Of course, there are a wide variety of other costumes from fantasy or science fiction movies. And no one there thinks it weird that people dress up in their favorite character. It’s truly a no judgment zone. I don’t dress up in a costume myself, but no one judges me for that, either. Nor for being there alone.

I have a comedian friend, Kyle, who had never been to the Ren Faire. He and another comedian, Jay, suggested we get a bunch of comedians together to go to a haunted house for Halloween. Since it was July, I recommended that we go the Ren Faire first. Neither one had been, nor had any idea what it was about. However, they did think it was weird that I suggested it as a group trip. They asked who I was going with. I had to admit I was going alone. Because no one else was interested in going with me. Later in the summer, he asked me if I went to the Ren Faire, and I told him I did. For the past three years, he has asked me if I went, and I always answer yes. This year, Kyle saw me after I went to the Ren Faire. He told me, “I went to the Renaissance Faire this weekend. It was cool!” I was very surprised.

Regarding my going on a first date to the Ren Faire, my date Natalie and I, on our first and only date, went to the Ren Faire on a very hot summer July day. At first, I thought we would hit it off. But then she was too critical of everyone there. Things were progressing poorly until they got worse. That occurred when me met a man dressed as a Viking. Perhaps, “dressed” is the wrong word because he honestly believed he was a real Viking. Or perhaps he was an excellent actor. Well, my date, Natalie, if that was her real name I’ll never know, started critiquing his outfit, saying he shouldn’t have a squirrel pelt as part of his apparel. She also lambasted him for not being able to speak the Viking language, which not one of the three of say with certainty what language a Viking would speak. We continued speaking in English for the rest of the conversation. She ended our chat by telling the Viking that he wasn’t authentic enough, which offended him greatly. So much so, that he temporarily unsheathed his sword.

We left shortly after that. We agreed to call each other for a second date, but neither of us called the other. After that, I now go to the Renaissance Faire alone.

caricature of author end of post
DDR

My Halloween “costume”


Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

Okay, despite the fact that I really love Halloween, I really hate to put on a costume. I enjoy watching others wear costumes and I love going to Halloween parties. But I don’t like to pretend to be someone I’m not.

I went to my cousin’s Halloween party even though I didn’t want to dress up. She always insists that everyone wear a costume, so I didn’t want to disappoint her.  I also decided not to buy a costume even though I couldn’t think of one to make.

My girlfriend offered many helpful suggestions, but I didn’t like any. Finally, an idea struck me, like a pumpkin striking my head. I took a white plastic garbage bag that I would wear over my body and I taped some children’s artwork on it, I put a grocery list on it too, and put some of the magnets from my refrigerator on it. I must admit that all that thinking and taping for a whole five minutes totally exhausted me!

When I got to the Halloween party, everyone kept asking me what I was supposed to be. Would you believe that not one person guessed that I was supposed to be a refrigerator? However, I believe that I was asked the most questions than anyone else about my costume was supposed to be.

Needless to say, I didn’t win the costume contest!

DDR

Robin


Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

I have had a few memorable Spanish students since I began teaching, but some are more unforgettable than others. Some I vaguely remember. For example, one female student, I don’t even remember her name. Or anything else about her. I only remember that she was petite, had black hair, caramel-colored skin, and she always sat in the front row, right in front of me. Well, I actually remember two things about her that were quite memorable. Once after class, she told me that the Spanish word for Muslim, “musulmán,” was the same as in her language. However, I don’t even remember what language she told me she spoke. But I remember our conversation quite vividly.

The other incident that I remember occurred on Halloween. I usually bring chocolate for my students on Valentine’s Day and candy on Halloween. I started passing out candy when I noticed that UIC students sometimes wore costumes for Halloween. I enjoy giving them candy. I’m not sure why, but I do.

Anyway, on Halloween, I passed out candy at the beginning of class and put the rest on my desk in case the students wanted more. Everyone was on time, except for the student I’ve been describing. She came about ten minutes late and was about to sit down at her desk right in front of me. Suddenly, she noticed the candy on my desk and stopped to take some–without even asking! She didn’t even greet me, and she was taking my candy! “Buenos días,” I told her. But she still didn’t greet me.

Her back was to the class, so I noticed that she was wearing the red and yellow uniform shirt with a big “R” for Robin, Batman’s crime-fighting partner. Finally, I said, “It’s okay for you to take some candy since you came in costume.” She gave a puzzled look.  “It’s Halloween and you’re wearing a costume,” I said. “This isn’t a costume. I just like wearing this shirt,” she said. Well, the class and I laughed at this. She just stared at me blankly and sat down. And sure enough, she wore her Robin shirt several more times during the rest of the semester.

DDR