When I was 17 or 18, I used to play Dungeons and Dragons a few times a week with a group of friends.
No, I had my own apartment at the time, so there was no dwelling in my parent's basement. They had a dank cellar anyways.
During one of the more memorable sessions, my friend Mike had enough gold pieces to acquire a minstrel. The purchasing of said minstrel, inspired many minstrel-related jokes. My favorite being that we needed to get the minstrel a bike. It would be a choice between aluminum or iron framed one.
A light or heavy minstrel cycle-get it?
Sadly, the minstrel was killed shortly after purchase by a tribe of Xenophobic elves that our party came across.
It was fun while it lasted, Sir Minstrel.
I was reminded of this today by my choice in tights. I had put on a pair of light grey ones as opposed to my usual black tights.
I never could figure out why light colored tights paired with black boots made me slightly uncomfortable, but it hit me as I was walking into a restaurant to meet Jessica.
"Tell me honestly," I asked, standing very straight. "Do these tights make me look like a minstrel?"
To which she replied, "Well, you do look like you could use a lute."
"I knew it!"
There were several discussions revolving around how I should mince about the restaurant as I made my way to the restroom, singing a ballad and I even had Jess take a picture of me playing air lute.
After Jessica and I parted ways, as I drove along, I remembered Mike's ill fated minstrel. Inspiration hit me.
Ok, I'm going off subject just a bit, but bear with me.
I am under the influence of a special kind of muse, (perhaps it's the 13th muse) the one that governs creative ways in which to poke fun at and embarrass your offspring.
I have a talent for it. It may sound mean, but think of it. You carry them, give birth to them, you nurse them both with your own body and then with your hands when they are sick. You spend all of your hard earned cash on plastic things and an exorbitant amount of extra food.
And for what? For them to be completely and utterly embarrassed by you, just as they start to become a little bit independent.
In addition, they tend to be very vocal about how embarrassing you are. My kids act so embarrassed if I even open my mouth near them in public, you would think that I had crapped myself, based on their reactions.
But, instead of being hurt a bit or feeling rejected, I go with it. For the most part, I try to use my special creativity for blackmailing purposes.
I do not threaten to take away toys or privileges. I do not hit my children. I do not put them in time out or ground them.
I tell them that I will chaperone their school dance, bring their father, and slow dance with him to every love song.
I threaten to yell "I love you, be brave!" as they walk into school. (I have followed through with this one)
I threaten to fart loudly while in public with them. (Tried that one didn't work out.)
They are good kids, fairly polite, somewhat responsible and they are good students. Must be working..
This is the one though.
I'm thinking that this is one of the last Halloween's where I can enforce the rule that they have to be accompanied by a family member.
B has to stay home to hand out candy with Lyd, so there is nobody to reign me in this year.
I'm thinking that I have to go as a minstrel. Floppy hat with the feather, big puffy sleeves and the light colored tight and big boot combo.
I'm going to attempt to get a lute, but even a cardboard one will do.
The songs and ballad's I can sing about my lovely children as we meander down the sidewalks passing every classmate and neighbor.
I could just threaten them with this. I could give them fair warning. Each broken rule, each moment of being disrespectful could be another song about the infraction for the neighborhood's enjoyment.
"Clean your room or it's gonna be another ballad while Trick or Treating!"
Or I could just surprise them on the big night.
I'm going as a minstrel, no doubt. If I have songs or whether I sing them will depend on them.
Next year I'm going as a mime.
