My friends and assorted relations, I have wonderful news to bring you from Fornduin Hall. Can you believe that, nearly a year after our founding, we are up to (almost) seven members? We are nearly at the number of the Fellowship! We can walk our way towards Mount Doom at any time (remind me to tell you sometime about the little bit of "speculative cartography" I once did as a result of house flags), although at the moment we are a bit shy of a ring. Fortunately, I suppose. It is impressive how much of a difference a single year makes in the growth of such a group.
In that time, we have spoken about music, games, food, the legendarium; we have played a "one-shot" of a Tabletop Roleplaying Game; we have heard from one of our esteemed members - a quantum physicist! - who presented a paper at Westmoot on the inter-relation of Tolkien, sound, and quantum physics. How truly and fantastically impressive is that? We have started the tentative process of getting a "portable pub" for a summer / early fall event - we are truly growing!
As I reflect upon the year that we've had, I'm put into mind of one of the things that I do that I think Bilbo would approve of most heartily. Every Sunday when I am driving, I pass by this fairly significant pond. Surrounded by pines, it seems secluded even though it's right off the side of the road. I've passed it now for several years, and I comment upon it each time so that it has now become "my thing". I look at its waves, and its stillness, and it's the stillness that I hope for. It has become so ingrained that I now have brought it beyond its physical reality - it is now a concept that I carry. When I'm stressed, I "go to the pond" in my mind. When I need peace, I conjure up that image. It's not dissimilar to a comfort read. The Shire is the pond, for some. It is for me a fair amount of time as well, but I think it's important to have something like that. I'll stop waxing philosophical now!
As many of you know, in my day job I teach and so the end of the year is a wonderful time for reflection and looking forward. I hope more of you bring some Tolkien into your lives, and I even more hope that it will be with us that you can do so. We meet on the third Tuesday of every month, at the John Curtis Library, and we'd look forward to having you with us.
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