Reenacting, the natural evolution

[crowley_greene]

I have read with great interest the lengthy dialogue on the greatest threat to reenacting. Yes, we *are* graying . . . I myself will be 59 next Saturday (but no gray yet).

But we don't need to be despairing and despondent over the incessant current of time. We only need to adapt gracefully to that which we cannot stop.

Perhaps it's time for reenacting to enter a new era -- the old soldiers' home.

We can select events at different places around the country (perhaps in towns and cities that might still have old 1890's residential areas), and convene for events. We'll sit around and reminisce about the War. For those who aren't yet comfortable with a mastery of reminiscent dialogue, they can either silently play checkers, rock on the front porch, or nap.

I suppose it does mean that the new reenacting age will at first consist mainly of EBUFUs. It will take time to swing the public away from the expectations of afternoon battles, to observing more sedentary activities on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

And events will of necessity be small, perhaps no more than 30 or 40 senior reenactors. I haven't thought the logistics of national events through yet.

Murray Therrell

[Sgt_Pepper]

How about a nice game of quoits on the lawn? Under the shade trees and with the appropriate libations, of course - iced tea and lemon-ade.

[indguard]

I can't wait till we can all lie about what we did in the war and argue about who was the best general, toughest battle, and who was really "right" all along!

[tompritchett]

As I mentioned in earlier threads, we "old pharts" could always reenact their post-war reunions. After all there is actual video documentation of those events.

[Michael Pierpoint]

I just had a real bad mental picture of me in a high back wheelchair of the times playing checkers holloring for someone to bring me lemonade all this on a big front porch talking about "back in the day" somtimes I have too much time on my hands

Michael Pierpoint

[Lee Ragan]

Sometimes at the living history events we have in Texas at the old frontier forts, I often do my "Old Sergeants Impression", or my "Old Captains Impression". This is done with a chair and the veranda of a buliding of some sort. The impression usually consists of sitting in the chair most of the day & exchanging pleasantries with passers-by. The best part of this "low impact", impression is that I don't have to clean a musket afterward.
I will also turn 59 this summer, so this impression is becoming my favorite! (Now where did I put my lemonade cup?)

[ilfed104]

I finished last season at age 59 and decided it was time to find something else to do. Now at 60 I'm moving into some kind of civilian impression. I like Lee Ragan's "old captain's impression." Low impact, babeeeeee! That's the ticket!

Rick Keating
finally a curmudgeon

[Remise]

I'm 55, and didn't start till I was 49. I'll quit when I get to be the same age as John Burns. Having said that, there is a guy I have encountered at Fort McHenry who does a great GAR impression.

B.C. Milligan

[Pete K]

Some friend and I have discussed portraying GAR vets at some parades. We'd search for the proper medals, hats,and suits of the 1880's-1890's era and march as the "old timers". We's suit up our teen aged sons to do the "sham battles" (as they called them) while we sit back in the shade and tell the war stories. Our working title for this group would br the GARR (Grand Army of Retired Re-enactors). I have to face it as well; a 44 year old Pennsylvania school teacher in the 1860's would be recruiting former students to join the Army, not fighting in it! Yes, some men enlisted in their forties, but not in large percentages in the Army of the Potomac.

Peter Kappas
heavy grenidier mess
63rd PVI Co. C

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Where's my drool bucket and chamber pot?


Curt-Heinrich Schmidt