[MR] Re: Secrecy

[Jennifer Drury]

>
>When a person is being recognized for something spiff they have done in
>whatever arena, it doesn't matter one bit if THEY were prepared for the
>event... it matters that they were recognized for the service they did, or
>their prowess, or for the art/science excellence and it matters that the
>people special to them made the recognition special somehow,
<respectful snippage>


I think that is the crux of the matter.  How can (in a non-polling award)the
people special to the recipient make sure the recognition is special without
knowing?  For the peerages, as I understand it, a person is put on vigil,
and has the opportunity to prepare for the award (at least, the ones I've
seen have been like this, if peerages have been given out in another way,
then I apologize for my misconception).

I think whether the recipient is surprised or not is a matter of personal
opinion (personal meaning the recipient's, of course).  The day I was called
into court and received my awards from TRM's (a few years ago, during
Harvord's and Mary Grace's reign), I had more than an inkling that I might
be.  (A gentle who had written a recommendation for me had told me they'd
done so, and because of that they were sure I'd get the award that I was
recommended for.  As often as that person told me I'd be receiving the
award, I kept saying that it was TRM's prerogative to give the awards, and
that they might decide for whatever reason not to.)  So, when my name was
called, it wasn't too much of a surprise to me.  The awards I received were
definitely a surprise, for neither were ones the above mentioned gentle had
written the recomendation for, and I shall never forget how I felt as the
scrolls were read.

However, on that same day, my Lord also received an award.  I was very glad
that I was able to be there, seeing the look of shock on his face when his
name was called.  A lot of my friends from my Shire received awards that day
also, and I was very glad to have been there to see them receive their
awards.

I like what Her Excellency Rosine (and I'm sorry, I cannot remember how to
spell your new name, or I would have used that one) said about finding a way
to let the loved ones know about the awards someone is getting.  Usually, I
am tending to other matters, volunteering someplace, or sometimes just
taking a nap, during court.  The specific court that my Lord, our freinds,
and I received our awards, I had to attend, as I was the Event Steward, and
was handing out the tournament prizes.  Because of that, I was in my good
garb.  My Lord was also in good, clean garb (he'd had to shower and change
before court as he was the archery marshall that day), and in attendance.
The day would not have been as special, nor the awards received as wonderful
feeling for me, had my Lord not been there to see me, nor had I been there
to see him.

I have heard from a lot of people (personal friends and so anecdotal
evidence to be sure) how disappointed they were that they either received
their awards without their friends/SO's being able to watch (for whatever
reason), or having been on site attending to other duties when a friend/SO
was called into court to receive an award.

So, unless the friends and loved ones know of the award, how can any of the
non-polling awards be made more special?  Since there is no polling order,
there would not be regalia that could be handed down from Master to his/her
protoge ni *newly made* Master, or from Knight to his/her squire ni *newly
made* Knight.  The only way that I can see to make the day more special (and
I admit to being short sighted at times), would be for the friends and loved
ones who are in attendance to also be there as the award is given.

In Service,
Branwyn



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