MOOP!

Merry May!

Despite having lived less than a mile away for all four years of college, and within five miles of Harvard Square the subsequent twelve years, this is the first time I've ever made it to the May Day festivities!

Context: it's first of May, first of May, and the morris dancers are out a'dancing in order to make sure the sun rises and the harvest is bountiful or whatever it is exactly morris¹ dancers do. There was a Maypole and singing and a big ol' circle dance and several performances by various local teams!

There were like...100? 150? people there, to dance and sing and hang out and lean on each other tiredly. I biked in with Elishka, which was splendid for so many reasons, not least of which was having made this plan in advance, we were both stuck with it for fear of disappointing the other, and so we both rolled out of bed at stupid in the morning to head out. It was also a good plan because she actually knew where we were going --I knew the optimal route to Harvard (since my college was literally next door, and indeed, I gave her the tour² as we biked past) but she got us the rest of the way once we were in the square.

I saw many people I knew, which was very pleasant! Elishka commented that she might've known more bellringers present³ than contra dancers, which was a very funny and not false observation. I spent lots of time chatting with Elena, and some time chatting with Martin, and was pleased as punch to see Neil⁴ and Iz and of course I said hi to all the morris friends in passing -- Laura and Amanda and Gillian and Sam and Lisa. Avalon was the first one to say hi to us, and I was unfortunately overwhelmed by their enthusiasm at 0'dark'thirty, but was good to hear them sing.

My biggest conclusion is that next year I need to figure out that obviously this is an event that I dress like I'm going to FaerieFest. Except I've biked home and had just enough time to eat some breakfast and type this out, so that would be a pretty quick turnaround if I had to also change into work-drag.

It was a really nice start to the day, month, season. And now I go off for work --seven weeks left, but who's counting?

~Sor
MOOP!

1: Do we capitalize "Morris Dancers"?

2: "I lived on that street for two years and that street for one year and in that tall building for one year annnnd now we're on Harvard's turf."

3: I think we had minor? Elishka, Kyle, Rachel, me, Mira, Arthur, Laura? Rachel and Mira were the two that showed up with bells on though, so bonus points to them!

4: Looking far more dapper than the rest of us, since this was "late night" instead of "early morning" for him, and also he had an *amazing* leather coat that looked real good on him.