mia_mcdavid has written here and here most of the story of our weekend. Here are a few more details from my perspective:

I packed the new(er) Escort wagon during the morning and early afternoon, while Tom was in school and later while we had aides for him. After Mia and I took Tom to the group home I headed north to join colgaffneyis at the Olde World Renaissance Faire, northwest of Duluth. Traffic was terrible around the Metro, but eased up once I got to I-35. The weather was bad most of the way. I was not looking forward to setting up our pavilion on a cold, dark, and wet campground. However, as I got near Cloquet, the sky to the north started to clear, and there was sunlight on the campsite when I got there about 8:15. Our camping area was quite crowded; we had less space than last year and more people. I helped with the common tents for colgaffneyis, then as more people came, was able to get some help setting up our tent, a project that needs at least three people in the early stages. It was after 10:30, and quite dark, when I finally finished. I piled my plaids on the air mattress and crawled under them a little after 11.

It was cold that night, but I actually did get quite a bit of sleep. There were some vivid dreams. At one point I dreamed about having a stove in the tent–my subconscious had a clear grasp on the important things.

As usual when camping, I got up quite early on Saturday. I dressed for the event in my heaviest shirt, a big Irish-style leiné. Then I belted on my heaviest plaid. Next came a heavy leather jerkin, then I pulled the upper part of the plaid over both shoulders cloak-style. At this point I was really quite warm. I went out and greeted the others, helped with camp chores, and had breakfast. After that I felt much better–I had not eaten since about 3PM Friday, and had worked quite hard that night.

The day was bright and clear, and rapidly warmed up. I rearranged my clothes, and eventually changed into a much lighter shirt and plaid. Our group was mostly female, so all of the men had to participate in the pike drill and the two dance presentations we gave. backseatgaffer was at his first public event and did well in all of these sessions. In fact everything went quite well, even though the irregular ground added an extra challenge to the dancing.

My 21st century technology was hidden in my tent, and occasionally (reception was poor) I could get e-mails on my Blackberry there. I was thus able to follow Mia’s progress and learn of her decision to come up and join us.

While the weather was warm during the day, we knew there was another cold night coming. Some of our members, and others camping there, did not want to deal with it–they phoned for rooms at local hotels. Near closing time I was standing outside the gate watching them leave. It looked like refugees fleeing a city about to be besieged.

I stayed behind. I had made it through one night, and felt confident of withstanding a second assault by the Frost Giants. Besides, Mia was coming. However, I did change back into my warmest shirt and plaid (It had been a great day for demonstrating all the ways to wear a belted plaid). Mia and James arrived about 7:30, with much more cold-weather gear. They had some supper and we got their stuff put away and the tent rearranged to accomodated three. We then sat around the fire and joined in the mirth, drinking, and singing there. Those who had fled to hotels missed a great party. Sometime around 10 we went to bed.

Mia got up early on Sunday, to work on breakfast and to go into town for a prescription medication James needed. I followed a little later, stirring after I heard the word “coffee” from outside the tent. The day’s schedule was the same–two dance sessions, one pike drill, and a lot of interpreting for the visitors to our camp. Dancing was better than on Saturday–a couple more of our musicians came up for the day. In the afternoon they had a great jam session with our friends from My Lady’s Cutlass and Istanpitta. Those groups had played dances for us last year and it was great to see them again.

Sunday night, after closing–time to pack and move out. First colgaffneyis corporate gear and tents, then personal stuff. All was going well for a while. Then I was pushing a very large and heavy chest onto the trailer when my feet slipped behind me. I pitched forward and smashed my face hard onto the top of the chest.

Next thing I knew I was on my back. twolodge was bending over me. He asked if I could track his finger with my eyes. Could I wiggle my toes? Could I move my legs? Yes to all (Good!!!). He and c_nocturum are both trained and experienced first responders, and I was fortunate to have them there. With help from the others they moved me to a chair, and then to our tent. I was holding an icepack on my face. The impact had been just below my nose, My upper front teeth were really sore, but they were all still present.

I was out of commission for the night. All I could do was lie there. Our friends from Clann, including botanicavix, bullettheblue, and backseatgaffer help Mia and James take down the tent pack our stuff, and (even more important) comforted and supported them.

How to get home? We had two cars and I could not drive. I rode home with c_nocturnum, while her husband drove one of our cars and Mia drove the other. This worked perfectly. As Mia wrote, it was wonderful how Clann rallied around, supported, and took care of us in this crisis. I will always remember and be grateful for this.

I had Monday off and Tom was no longer around, so we slept long and well. I was doing much better in the morning–just a bloody and swollen upper lip, and a sore upper jaw in front. Mia had things to do, so she left me home to unpack. That was OK–I had not been able to do anything the night before. Both cars were stuffed, but that did not bother me. I had plenty of time, and did not have to worry about Tom. Mia and Clann had packed everything very well, sometimes better than we had it packed before the trip. I had most of the stuff unpacked, sorted, and properly stored by early afternoon. Without Tom this was actually a pleasant and relaxing task. It was a great weekend, depite my fall. Even that had a good side–it showed how wonderful our Clann friends really are.

A final note from today (Wednesday). I had a dental appointment this morning on another matter. However, the dentist did take a good look at my front teeth as well. They all seem to be OK.