(Moved from Tinker DG) 2nd Annual 4th of July Ball

[Desiree]

*the tinkers have set up camp in a beautiful clearing next to a lake. They have bonfires lit, refreshments set out on the wagons' handy window sills, and fallen logs spread out for benches to sit on when the dancers' feet need a rest*

 

*Poledra Sedai, the Mahdi, walks over and stands on the log nearest the bonfire and most of the dancing Tuatha'an and other couples*

 

Welcome, everyone, to the second Annual Fourth of July Ball hosted by the Tuatha'an! Once again, we have come together to celebrate an American holiday that brought peace to a nation.

 

*sees a raised eyebrow of one of the nearby Tinkers*

 

Yes, I know they fought for this peace. They fought valliantly. We are here today to honor them and their memory and those who serve our country or have died trying. It seems some things are just worth fighting for. Through our forefather's efforts, we have a free country, now. Today, we are still fighting to keep our freedom. These people deserve to be remembered, even if fighting is against the Way of the Leaf.

 

This week, we will celebrate the best way my Tuatha'an and I know how - through song, merriment, and dance! Let the festivities begin!

[eclipse0]

Something I like to do every holiday which involves a military remembrance, is to read the poem, In Flanders Field.

 

Iin Flanders Field,

the poppies blow

Between the crosses,

row on row,

That mark our place;

and in the sky

The larks,

still bravely singing,

fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn,

saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved,

and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel

with the foe:

To you

from failing hands

we throw

The torch;

be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

[Talya]

I've heard that one before, it's a lovely poem.

 

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

 

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

 

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

 

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

 

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

 

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

[Leelou]

*Leelou leaves her spears outside the ring of wagons*

 

Beautiful poems.  :)

[Talya]

Welcome to out fires Leelou, make yourself at home... :)

[eclipse0]

Wow, I've not heard that one before Talya, it is quite good.

 

And welcome Leelou, have some punch and pie!

 

Now it's time to lighten the mood, where's Gwappy and his colorful balls?

[Talya]

Thanks, I liked it too, and you can change 'England' for any country and it means the same.. :)

 

*hands around some punch to all the guests and Tinkers alike*

 

 

 

 

[eclipse0]

*takes Talya's Hand*

 

Care to dance?

[Talya]

I would be delighted*

 

*follows eclipde onto the dance area as the musicians begin the music*

[GrandpaG]

* telling a quick story and juggling shiny balls at the same time *

* double concentration...gets harder as age creeps in *

 

It was July 4th, 1776.

No, I don't remember it.

* shoots dagger eyes at a smart-Alex grinning in the front row *

But, I have read the books and heard the stories.

The American colonies were loyal to "Mother England" for the most part.

For many years they had struggled to gain a foot hold in this "New World".

Without the support of England, they would not have survived the French and Indian War...they could have perished at the hands of hostile natives...without supplies to get them started, they could have all died before they ever had a chance to form the 13 colonies.  When the Declaration of Independence was written, some stories tell that over two-thirds of the colonial population was AGAINST separation from Britain.  There were trade considerations.  We spoke English.  The connection had a history.  "Why change if we don't really need to?"

 

But, it was time.

 

I still remember after almost 40 years the first time that I stood up to my father, looked him straight in the eye, and declined the offer to do as I was told.  Not that I was a bad kid or a rebellious lad...it was just "Time."..."to every thing, turn, turn, turn"...that was the right "Time." for me to let my dad know in no uncertain terms that I was growing up and would soon be making my own mistakes decisions.  This is similar to the way that I view the revolution of the colonies away from mother England.  The time had come for our country to stand up on their own.  Just as my dad was not real pleased with me, England was not thrilled with the thought of losing control over her youngsters.  But, it had to happen sometime...and it did.

 

July 4, 1776.

 

So much water has flown under the bridge in those few years since then.  So much has changed.  But, we still speak English.  We still join mother England in her attempts to bring democracy to the world.  We have strong political and economic ties.  We spam together at DM.

:)

 

As I stated in my Fiddlesticks soapbox session, "A paid day off is a paid day off!!!"  ;)

 

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Happy 4th everyone!

 

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edit:

 

Almost forgot that this is a Tuatha'an Ball!!!

:-[

 

* checks out all of the delightful goodies spread out on picnic blankets nearby *

* trying not to drool *

It all looks quite delicious!!!

Where to begin?

* remembers what mama used to say about having to wait an hour after eating to go swimming *

* makes a tough decision, hoping it's not a mistake bad one *

* in a flash, Gwampy is headed for the lake at an all out run *

* shedding clothing on the fly *

* the crowd is wondering just how much of Gramps they're going to see today *

:o

* the wrinkled old gleeman keeps his stride as he meets the water, lifting his knees higher and higher as the water gets deeper *

 

Geronimo!!!

 

* he dives in when he can run no further *

* stays under for as long as he can hold his breath *

* resurfaces like a whale exhausting it's blow hole *

 

Now THIS is what the 4th of July SHOULD be like!!!

:)

 

* floats on his back *

* not worried about anybody seeing him nearly-naked *

* dreaming about the goodies waiting ashore *

Life is good.

:)

[Talya]

Lovely story Gwampy, thanks.. :)

 

*blushes and hides her eyes form Gwampy's nearly naked body as he runs passed her to the lake*

 

:-[

[Desiree]

hahaha! *applauds everyone, especially Grampy's tales* *has a grin set on her face that won't seem to go away - not that she wants it to or anything*

 

I look back and see it's quite ironic how we were at war then and now we get along so well. Maybe wars do bring peace in their own way, but it is not our Way. To each their own, right?

 

*toasts her fruit punch with the nearest dancer*

 

and anyway, I'm glad it happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Otherwise, we'd have a TV tax! :o

[eclipse0]

*Chuckles at the Mahdi*

 

Well looks like she's got her priorities straight ::)

 

*Wisks Talya away on the dance floor*

[Talya]

TV tax?...not sure what that is...about the one thing that isn't....yet!!! :D

 

*gets whisked off to dance*

 

 

[Loreina]

*wanders in* In Flanders Fields has always been one of my favorite poems. I liked Talya's very much, also.

Good story GG!

*hits for the water* SSSSPLAAAAASHSHSHSHSH! *huge cannonball*  :D

 

When we lived in England, we had to pay 50 pounds a year as TV tax. It went to support programming on BBC, which was commercial free. I loved having commercial free TV! *nods*

[Talya]

LOL...it's a licence fee not a tax...the givernment don't get the money...I like commercial free tv too and radio :D

[eclipse0]

We have that here too, it's called HBO :)

 

*twirls Talya around*

[Loreina]

LOL... I wasn't thinking about the premium channels... I was thinking more like PBS. But I get where you're comin' from. *nods*

[Talya]

HBO has no comercials at all!...Thats pretty good too...

 

*continues dancing with eclipse*

[Loreina]

*starts doing a water ballet*

 

Esther Williams ain't got nothin' on me!  ;) :D

[GrandpaG]

* abandons his sand castle to the ever advancing waves *

* shakes like a dog to shed his coat of water *

* leans sideways and kicks the opposite foot hard to get the water out of his ear...remembers dad showing him how to do that a LONG time ago *

* remembers the goodies waiting by the fires *

* tries to remember his manners, but it's difficult *

* follows his trail of discarded clothing, picking up and donning pieces as he goes *

* trying to decide which goodies to start on first *

::)

[Desiree]

*takes Grampy in a short dance over to the Tinker Brand M&M cookies*

 

why not try dessert first so you know you'll always have room for it? ;D

[Simon the half-demon]

LOL...it's a licence fee not a tax...the givernment don't get the money...I like commercial free tv too and radio :D

 

exept your legally required to pay it :P

[Desiree]

aunt told me that there's a tax/"fee" for almost everything in England. I thought we had a lot of taxes, but some of the things she named off was rediculous :P

[Simon the half-demon]

i know that in the same position in terms of how well it pays, you can afford much more in the states than you can in england