Do not cease to
drink beer, to eat, to intoxicate thyself, to make love, and to celebrate the
good days.
Egyptian Proverb
During my travels across Second Life
(SL), as I’ve written a few times, I’ve been struck by the communities which
have grown up inworld and have developed lives of their own. Many times these complement the Real Life
(RL) lives of their members. Other times they exist apart. Either way they are vibrant and diverse
groups of people celebrating some facets of their lives together.
Today, I will write about celebrations
inworld. In particular the anniversary
celebrations of two communities that I’ve become close to over the past year
and to whose members I find myself returning to from time to time. (You’ll have
to ask them yourself how they feel about me dropping in.)
The two sims are 1920’s Berlin and Book Island, places I’ve
visited several times and written about previously. Their members were gracious in making
themselves available for interviews with me and guiding me to other locations
inworld for other stories. (Or, maybe
they just wanted to get me out of town?)
1920’s Berlin recently celebrated
their third anniversary and Book Island their fifth anniversary. Each had a full program of events celebrating
their successes and partying to enjoy their company. I was invited to both. I attended both (although in one case, due to
the vicissitudes of RL, I arrived in the middle of the night and had to
celebrate all by my lonesome).
The community behind 1920’s Berlin is
led by Frau
Jo Yardley and is dedicated to role playing the city of Berlin as it was
during the Weimar Republic. The spirit and physical look and feel of the sim is
exceptional as I’ve written before and I encourage people to visit.
But 1920’s Berlin is not just a static
sim which gathers virtual dust and bots mechanically greet visitors. Anyone who got caught up in the recent
recreation of the May Day riots would probably agree. Likewise anyone dropping by the monthly
naturists’ social in the public baths would probably have a similar opinion. And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the
Eldorado Club on Saturday nights.
The third anniversary celebrations did
not disappoint. Parties, bands, parades,
a treasure hunt, a car rally through the streets of Berlin, and museum exhibits
were but a few of the events
scheduled. Even the strict period
dress rules were relaxed for a period of time.
Don’t let me forget to mention the new zeppelin which flew
overhead? (Now, some may ask how, with
all this going on, did I manage to miss all of it and wind up as a one man
parade? Well, let’s just say it’s complicated.) In a word, these folks know how
to throw a party.
Book Island had similar celebrations
for their fifth anniversary (without the road rally and zeppelin though). Actually, probably a bit more sedate given
the nature of this sim. Selina Greene
established Book Island as sanctuary for writers in SL. I visited with her and her friends and came
away thinking that SL could be the new salon for the twenty-first century.
Group events, dances, music, speeches,
and poetry readings were the stables of this anniversary. As with 1920’s Berlin, the community came out
to participate and enjoy themselves.
One dance I attended had Brendan Shoreland providing
the live musical entertainment and there was also a period costume party for the
guests. (I didn’t win.) The festivities were not disappointing. Here,
I can say from personal experience that everyone had a great time.
I came away from both these
celebrations impressed by the organizational skills to produce these events
which went over several days in each case and their content. These were not just cookie cutter images of
each other. Each was different and had
its own theme. Each responded to its
community in its own way. What they had in
common was that everyone had a wonderful time.
As I started this post by talking
about the communities inworld and how they are developing, I’d like to end by
taking about each one’s traditions and shared memories and how they are
remembered and handed down. Are we
really any different from our ancestors who sat around fires in the night
thousands of years ago and shared stories from our common past with those who
continue on after us? Think about it.
I would like to thank Frau Jo Yardley and
Selina Greene for their kind invitations to join them and their friends in
their celebrations. I also wish them and
their communities continued success and many more anniversaries!
As always, I’m grateful to all for their
kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through
their lives.
I welcome feedback from readers, please
either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com .
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
Photo
No. 1 Frau
Jo Yardley
Photo
No. 2 1920’s
Berlin Third Anniversary Poster
Photo
No. 3 Selina
Greene
Photo
No. 4 Brendan
Shoreland Playing
Photo
No. 5 Book
Island Refreshments
Photo
No. 6 Book
Island Fireworks
Photo
No. 7 Book
Island Fifth Anniversary Poster
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