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>>Craig: Hello, Failte! Come on in, you must be Peter.
>>Peter: And you must be Craig. What is ìFailteî?
>>Craig: That is ìhelloî in Gaelic. I studied it for 2 years in the University of Galway.
Oh, why did I ever come back?!
>>Peter: You studied Gaelic? Why?
>>Craig: For my identity. College is all about finding out who you are. I am a Celt, and
- as you know - a Druid, not just a Reformed Druid, Iím a Druid. Therefore, I needed to
study a Celtic language, so I did, and it has made all the difference!
>>Peter: Yes, Andrea mentioned that you and Thomas knew a lot about the ancient Celts
and the Druids.
>>Craig: Well, I do. But, Ií m afraid Thomas has only dabbled for a year or so with some
background reading. My next goal will be learning Welsh in a Masterís program in Cardiff (Wales)
after I graduate next spring. I canít wait! Youíre learning a bit about Reformed Druidism?
>>Peter: Yes, Iíve talked a bit with Sarah and Andrea already.
>>Craig: Ah yes. So you got their spiel about freedom, religious liberty, authoritarianismÖ.
>>Peter: It sounds like you are not interested in that?
>>Craig: Everyone comes to Reformed Druidism with different motivations, you know. Some
noble, others far less so, and some for mysterious reasons of Fate.
>>Peter: Of course, looking forward to meeting everyone.
>>Craig: But, what about the excitement? The magic? The poetry! Did they tell you how fun
the festivals are? The mystery and grandeur of the Druidic traditions? The subtle bittersweet
wisdom of the Celtic gestalt? And the campfires? Itís not just about rebellion and independence
and all that!
>>Peter: Well, no, I guess not. All in good time.
>>Craig: Peter, even for such a simple group, there is much to learn. Our Jackpine Grove
is a college based group, one of only three in the Reform, and as such, it is rather an
intense and short-lived experience. Weíll all leave within four or five years. Make
the most of it. Druidecht go Brach! Carpe Deum!
>>Peter: Carpe Deum? Like in the movie, "Dead Poets Society"?
>>Craig: Ideally. But, our Jackpine Grove is often more like, îThe Island of the Misfit
Toysî, as youíll see soon. But first, I must challenge you to a duel!
>>Peter: A what?
>>Craig: A duel! Donít worry, itíll be a battle of wits, and Iíll hold back on my
sharpest sarcasm. On guard!
>>Peter: Why, what did I do?
>>Craig: I must battle you for the right to seek Sarahís favors!
>>Peter: Sarah?
>>Andrea: Sarah, how are you today?
>>Sarah: Fine, Andrea. How are things?
>>Andrea: Oh, not so well, but holding together, as always. My husband, Ishaan, will be returning
from the business trip tomorrow, so Iím doing double duty at home. Oh, Peter stopped in
last week.
>>Sarah: Yes, heís a nice fellow. Please, donít tell me, you didnít send him to Craig
did you?
>>Andrea: Afraid so, had to happen eventually. I think he can handle him.
>>Sarah: Howíd it go with Peter last week?
>>Andrea: Seems interested. A gentle soul. He reminds me of a young knight on a quest
- so polite. And kind of cute, too, donít you think?
>>Sarah: Oh, Andrea!
>>Andrea: Iíve still got eyes and I can see. Oh, come on! When are you going to live a
little? If not him, well then who? When? Itís been almost four years now.
>>Sarah: Itís complicated.
>>Andrea: Yes, of course it is, and it wonít get any more simple after school.
>>Sarah: I have other priorities right now. This is my senior year, and I need to prepare
for my M. B. A. and then find an internship in Chicago, I want to be successful. I donít
want to end up likeÖ.
>>Andrea: Like what? Like me?
>>Sarah: I didnít mean that.
>>Andrea: Yes, you did, ìin a loveless marriage, a dead-end job, stuck here in rural Michiganî.
It doesnít always end this way, but sure there is a risk, and there is a silver lining
to every cloud, like my kids. But college is a time to explore. Sarah, youíre 21! You
donít have to marry the first man who comes along. I wish someone had told me that.
>>Sarah: If love walks in my door, I can go along with that, but Iím not going to force
it to start now. It takes time to rebuild. Peter is just a friend.
>>Andrea: Okay, heís a friend, but keep the door open, all right? Donít shut everyone
out.
>>Sarah: Thanks, but while we are talking empowerment, when are you going to say to
Ishaan when he comes back?
>>Andrea: Well.
>>Peter: Sarah? You must be mistaken, weíre notÖ
>>Craig: Really? Well, good! Then, I take back my challenge, I will spare you.
>>Peter: Um, thanks Craig.
>>Craig: You know, I returned from the gates of paradise for her. How long I have worshipped
her, bathed from afar in the glorious sunbeams from my auburn angel. Now, wasting away, yes,
pining away. Och!, the irony, here in Jackpine Grove.
>>Peter: Why donít you just tell her?
>>Craig: You know nothing! The timing is not yet ripe, I await the moment, when she will
be ready, when Fate and the Gods decide that we must embark on an epic courtship, and then
I will woo her, like Tristan, like Dairmaid, like LancelotÖ
>>Peter: Wooo?
>>Craig: Who? Like the great lovers from Celtic mythology! So often it ends in tragic, unrequited,
star-crossed love. Yet, we Celts are never happier than when we are sad. Itís our nature,
one must love passionately, or not at all! Donít mention this to Sarah, but we are both
seniors this fall, and it must be soon, or never. Never, how cruel a word. Oh, my heart,
is it ready yet?
>>Peter: Mumís the word, I wish you luck on that. So, tell me about the Celts and Druidic
symbols.
>>Craig: Ah, where to begin? We only have two months of summer vacation left! Alas,
Iím not certain I am ready to take you on as my student.
>>Peter: Your student?
>>Craig: Okay, donít pressure me, I accept.
>>Peter: ButÖ
>>Craig: Now, the first thing we need is background, background, and more background! Wait a moment.
Here, this is a list of some books you must read before we can even talk of the basics.
>>Peter: So many?Ö
>>Craig: Isnít it wonderful?! Letís start with just these three, a very Celtic number,
and go from there. Come back in a week.
>>Peter: Okay, if you say so.
>>Craig: I do say so. Yes, go, the books are waiting for you in the library! Failte!
>>Peter: Huh?
>>Craig: That also means goodbye too.
>>Peter: So one never knows when one is coming or going?
>>Craig: That is the way of Druids, itís the same thing.
>>Peter: Failte!
>>Craig: Donít forget to check the footnotes!