Squire & Princess of Trimaris

If you're unfamiliar with the Society for Creative Anachronism, I can tell you now that it is a mass of contradictions, depending on where you're located, and when. For me, in the little area of Trimaris before it became a principality, and just after, it was a lot of fun -- as well as an unqualified political pain in the butt! ;-)

Trimaris wasn't a principality when I joined. Because Trimaris had only three (later four) knights, and its kingdom of Meridies wouldn't make any new knights for it, being a squire was a Big Deal. This was further exacerbated by the fact that one of the Trimarian knights would take only one squire at a time.

I was the first female squire in the new Principality of Trimaris, and only the second female fighter -- the first female fighter had departed the SCA years before. As a sign of what things were like when I decided to start fighting, there were women in Trimaris who would derisively comment that no true lady would ever fight! Needless to say, I did not let this stop me, and I'm pleased to say that there were many women fighters in Trimaris when I finally had to move, for job reasons. As an aside, I'll admit to quite a bit of smugness at hearing a few years ago that my main female detractor had started fighting! ;-)

Therefore, while I was happy I could help my then-boyfriend serve as Princess and Prince of Trimaris, it's the squire's belt I was really proud of -- that's the one I earned! ;-)