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From: "irishfolker" <irishfol...@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: alt.fairs.renaissance
Subject: Re: Favorite faire memory?
Date: 23 Dec 2005 07:17:06 -0800
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My favorite faire memory occurred on the last day of MDRF 2004.  The
final song.  Well, the one after that, really.  But first, some
history...

As long as my wife and I have been fairegoers, "Wild Mountain
Thyme" has been the crowning song at MDRF.  It is undoubtedly the
most popular song to end the day with.  It is also one of my wife's
favorite songs.  During 2004 it was conspicuously absent, being sung 3
times during the entire season.  It appeared as if there was a
deliberate attempt being made to sideline this wonderful song.  During
the faire season we learned that my wife's cancer had returned and
she would be having major surgery 3 days after the close of faire.  I
was determined that she would get at least one chance to sing that song
again.

As the Pub Sing on the last night was winding to a close, somebody in
the audience called for Wild Mountain Thyme.  The leader of Pub Sing
(whom I shall not name to spare him deserved embarrassment) told him
to, "Finish your beer and go home, sir."  Something else, perhaps
Auld Lang Syne, was sung; the royals said their goodbyes; the final gun
was sounded; and the lights were extinguished.

I rose from my seat and began, "Oh, the summer time is gone; and the
leaves are sweetly turning..." and as one, every person in the White
Hart began to sing along.  Several hundred voices raised to commemorate
the ending of another year with their favorite song.  At the end of the
first chorus, they all went silent for me to sing the second verse,
then joined in for the chorus again.  And again for the third verse.
When we were finished, there arose such a cheer as you never heard
before.  Needless to say, tears were rolling down my face.

I will never forget that night.  And neither will my wife.  Thank you
to all who form that memory.

Jeff