Huzzah! A Day at the Renaissance Faire

My mother has always wanted to go to a Renaissance faire. She's sixty-eight and has watched every movie with knights in it at least twice. So this May, for her birthday, I took her.

She wore a flower crown. I wore a borrowed cape. We had no idea what to expect.

It was the most delightfully ridiculous day of our lives. There were jousting knights on enormous horses. There were jugglers, fire-eaters and a man who juggled while on fire. There were giant turkey legs, mead in clay mugs and a woman who sold "dragon eggs" made of painted soap. Everyone, and I mean everyone, spoke in fake old English. "Good morrow, m'lady!"

My mother went full Renaissance. She bought a corset. She cheered for the red knight so loudly in the joust that he rode over and handed her a rose. She learned to throw an axe and hit the target on her second try.

On the drive home, still wearing her flower crown, she said, "We're going again next year. In full costume." I've already ordered my doublet.