[MR] Heartfelt Thanks

[Towey, Brian]

Dear friends and neighbors,

At the Tourney of the Grail, two weekends ago, there was a very unfortunate
incident.  While I was swashbuckling away, my daughter, who is almost four
years old, approached an apparently friendly dog on the sidelines.  

Who can say what goes through a dog's mind?  Perhaps he was tired of being
tethered.  Perhaps he was tired of being nice to a bunch of strangers.
Perhaps he didn't like the way she smelled.  Perhaps he had finally found
somebody shorter than himself, and wanted to pull rank.  In any case, he
snapped at her, opening several shallow gashes on her face.

I carried my crying and bleeding daughter up to the hall, and there an
amazing thing happened.  Everything worked beautifully.

At least one Registered Nurse was there to evaluate the injury.  People came
running with ice and compresses, including a linen table napkin that I
regret I was unable to return.  One helpful lady drove Gina and me to the
nearest hospital, while another helpful lady correctly deduced that my wife
was too upset to drive and followed in our van with the rest of the family.
At the hospital, we made a colorful sight, but the staff was unruffled and
the quality of care was excellent.

The dog's owners were very distraught, and came to the hospital to make sure
everything was OK.  They happened to have the dog's vaccination records on
hand, which relieved much anxiety about rabies.  

My son and infant daughter napped in the van, while our two lady drivers
kept the engine and air conditioning running.  When the kids awoke, these
gracious ladies entertained them while Gina was inside getting a row of
stitches on her right eyelid, another at the corner of the eye, and two more
on the cheek.

Meanwhile, back at Camp York, the autocrats handled the situation by calling
the appropriate authorities, and meeting with the sheriff and animal
control.  The Troll building was easy for the civilian authorities to find,
which is a detail that would be easy to overlook.  One SCA gentleman who is
mundanely a lawyer took statements from witnesses and notarized them, just
in case they should be needed.

When we broke camp, there were more hands to help than there were bags to
carry.  One lady presented Gina with an enameled sea unicorn as an impromptu
award for bravery.  The dog's owners graciously apologized and even asked us
to send them the bill (an act of no little bravery in itself).

And, to the last man and woman, our many benefactors were modest, so much so
that they asked not to be thanked by name.  "It was no problem to help out,"
they said.  "That is what we do this for anyway."  Not wanting to tarnish
their heavenly crowns by heaping them with earthly praise, I have described
their deeds only.  But let me sing publicly of the skill and hospitality of
the Canton of Falcon Cree and its surrounding lands.

As for Gina, she is healing nicely. She kept her wits about her through it
all, and offered comments like "I think they should give that dog some dog
food," and "Girls who are brave get a special prize -- anything they want."
The stitches came out without incident, and although it is early to tell, it
looks like there will be little scarring.  She is more wary of dogs now, but
I have good hopes that there will be no lasting emotional scars, either.  

The measure of a man or woman is not apparent when things go well.  It is in
disaster that the true character shines forth.  I could not wish for a finer
group of people to have around me when things go wrong.  I thank God for you
all.

Your servant,

Charles Fleming
mka Brian Towey
"Miror Otium Negotium Multum Requirare"