Happy Birthday Seanchai Library!

Happy Birthday Seanchai!
by Faerie Maven-Pralou

In March of 2008, I was wandering around S.L in a state of infancy.  I was 3 months old and just starting my Second Life.  As we all have, I found the characters to be sometimes a bit abusive, unkind, way too provocative and very unpredictable.  I wasn’t sure how much I really was going to enjoy this experience.

I met Gina on March 10, 2008 on her rez day. She was a newbie trying to buy a watch from a box in a store.  Such a strange concept and I had the best time teaching her how it all worked.  We became instant friends and I took her to a sandbox where she proceeded to attach some abstract object to her head.  Our adventures began that day and have continued ever since. 

I found a storyteller sitting in a grove of trees by a fireside reading Darby O’Gill I believe.  He had a very exciting voice enjoying himself so much and the chat was very amicable with all kinds of characters.  I also believe that is when I discovered I could have a set of faerie wings if I so chose.  They have been with me ever since.  I settled in and was mesmerized by this man telling a story with an Irish accent in voice. Of course, someone had to walk me through getting all that to work.  When he stopped reading and it was time to go, I just wanted more.  The very next night I took Gina with me.  She couldn’t stay long, but again when it was over, I just wanted another story! That was the West of Ireland.  It actually got me picking up my own books again on a more regular basis. 

The reason I threw that in, is because that year was a life changing experience for both of us.  I lived in Alaska and she lived in Florida.  Only in S.L can you befriend someone across the nation, not to mention on the other side of the world.  A fascinating concept.  We went to the “clubs” dancing, flew through sims on the backs of hummingbirds, had motorcycles and speed boats and hippity hops…but, for years, it was a standing date to meet at the library at 7pm week nights.  Fridays nights we danced in the meadow with the same friends and story tellers.  I remember meeting Herndon there J.  The stories we have heard, the people we have met and the things we have all enjoyed throughout these years, are priceless memories to us.  From Sir Shandon's Irish Tales, Caledonia’s Tea Times, remember Gracie's reading group?  Has anyone seen her lately?  Derry our Queen Bee, Bear our Architect (I remember when he started learning to build…look at him now!)  There was Aoife and Kayden, and Gyro, Crap, and many many more that touch our imaginations, make us laugh, keep us guessing.  I can’t speak for all of us, but for Gina and I the Library has been a large part of our journey real and virtual. 

Derry approached Gina that summer I believe, as Gina and expressed an interest in reading.  I think the first book she read was Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  She was fabulous and completely HOOKED on storytelling.  Then one day, I found my courage and Derry gave me an “interview” so to speak.  I read something very short, I don’t even remember what it was.  But my first story I ever read was The Night Fairy with Skuggles the squirrel who likes cherries.  One day, I think it was Caledonia, maybe it was Derry, dubbed me the “resident fairy” and I thought….I am SOME FAE NOW!  The Seanchai staff, the people who take the time to show up every night, step in when we need something, the new people that we get to introduce second life to in a positive form have all become our second life family. 

That was 6 years ago.  In that six years, because of the library and having the fantastic ability to meet decent people with like minds, Gina and I have grown from being the best of friends virtually, moving in together virtually, and getting to know each other in a virtual social setting to actually meeting each other in real life.  She came to Alaska to see me for the first time.  We spent a week together and when she left, we weren’t sure when we would see each other again.  We were miserable after that, but we had the library to come to and find joy in being together even if it was just virtual, it was still very real  for us.  We are mover and shakers and one year later, she moved to Alaska to be with me. 

And the Friday night dances were so much fun.  Caledonia dancing in a martini cup, Crap and Shandon rolling barrels of rum down gang planks of the pirate ship in the sky (I could have some of this confused.  Friday nights were alternating red and/or white wine nights sooo….)  Who could ask for better company to hang with!

The Seanchai Library, and all its people are a huge part of Gina and I.  For those of you who don’t know, or haven’t figured this out already, Gina and I are engaged in real life and are getting married in June.

From the Night Fairy and the Kite Fighters with Ruffles on their Longjohns who love spending afternoons with elves where the mountain meets the moon we wish you a happy birthday and thank you for joining us in circumnavigating Seanchai Library in a ship of our own making.  Congrats on a job well done.  Happy Birthday.

Flutters her wings…