One of my friends is a fencer, she likes mideval things. For prom she dressed up in this princess stuff she got from king richard's faire. She goes to a bunch of medeval conventions and faires. A couple of my friends are bronies, which means they like "my little pony" and they go to alot of ponycons. Some of my friends are otaku's, which means they love japanese anime and manga, so they go to anime boston every year and cosplay (dress up as characters) at different anime conventions.
My mother likes pilgrim/american antique stuff so she goes to alot of antique stores and flee markets. My father might have been a half-hearted comic convention person at one point, but if he was going to fall under any catagory it would probably have something to do with the ocean. He goes to alot of seafod festivals, sand sculptor displays, and beach things.The good thing about going to conventions or other places like conventions is that you are surrounded by people who are just as or more obsessed as you. You dont feel like such a freak for liking what you do.When you are there you feel like you are normal, and its okay to be you. People around you even understand! Imagine that! Someone who understands that you like something, isnt annoyed about it, and will actually join in! I know this because that is what I felt when I went to the highland games in New hampshire. Its a feeling I will never forget or get over!
I knew all of the songs that Charlie Zahm played! All of them! I looked around me and there were other people listening too! They knew the words too! Some were requesting songs, and others were tapping their feet! There were people wearing kilts, and plaids! They were proud to be wearing them, the same way I was! You could buy heather and thistles, you could get shortbread cookies. I just can't get over it because I didnt feel weird. I felt like I belonged. I could explain everything to my mom. I wasn't even the only kid my age excited about it!
So the point of me saying this is I'm part of a group too. I'm part of the highland games group. Granted, I've only been to one in New hampshire, but there are a couple in the new england area that I can go to this summer.
(I'm not this obsessed but I'm going to put this out there)
My entertainment and my day trips for the rest of my life could be centered around going to highland games if I wanted. Its not the only thing I want to do with my life, but its something I can fall back on when all other ideas expire. I could learn country dancing, when I'm older I can drink some of the beer (if I want), I could get a pet sheep or a westy like my grandpa and name it something scottish. My house when I'm older can be full of scottish stuff like thistles. I could get a thistle tattoo or a celtic knot tattoo.I can marry a scottish guy that dresses up in a kilt at conventions (although I'm not exactly looking that far ahead, and my main concern for a husband is not going to be his heritage). I could learn to weave tartans, or learn to speak gaelic. If I wanted I could dedicate my life to something I love, and I would never have any regrets. Just the fact that I could do this is amazing to me, its such a wonderful world!
My future is full of possibilities, I can do all of this stuff and more. Its just a matter of desire and determination. The truth is I've been concerned about college. I didnt make any friends at orientation, and I'm afraid nobody will accept me. The school I'm going to is a big party school, and I'm not a big partier. I knew it was a big party school when I applied, but it wasnt until a recent incident that I realized just how against alcohol I am. I might have made the wrong choice, I'm not sure. My teacher said that "it doesnt matter where you go as long as you know who you are" and I'm pretty sure that I have a good grasp on who I am, so that calms me down.
I just want to say that it is such a relief and comfort to know there are people like me out there at highland games and scottish fairs. Just to know that there are people who would accept me helps me get through this worry I have right now. I feel good to know that there is a place where I can go to feel better. When Iam upset, I can bring up the memory/feeling of being at NHscot, that amazing feeling of being a part of something. Wish me luck
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"From
the lone sheiling of the misty island
Mountains divide us, and the waste of seas-
Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland,
And we in dreams behold the hebridies."
--Canadian boat song
--JSparrow
Mountains divide us, and the waste of seas-
Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland,
And we in dreams behold the hebridies."
--Canadian boat song
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