Excited to be in town with my kids in full costume, we were ready to play 18th century at Colonial Williamsburg’s annual reenactment, Under the Redcoat.
The header photo, from later in the day, shows how we were dressed for something exciting I’m about to tell.
Little did I know surprises would arrive!
After the kids and I walked through the Under the Redcoat encampment early on Saturday morning, pursued a bit of shopping at the Mary Dickenson Shop.
PATRICK HENRY TALKED TO GUESTS WHILE HIDDEN BY THE TREES
Passing by the Roscow Cole house, we saw Patrick Henry and a couple of guests standing under a tree, their faces quite obscure.
Ah, he learned his lesson from the night before to hide from the Redcoats, whose jail is just across the street!
But I wondered why even be on the streets? I don’t usually see him on the streets, especially during Under the Redcoat.
The kids wanted me to ask him to autograph my book but I wasn’t so sure.
I doubted he would, especially since I didn’t know who the guests were.
Then he saw us.
“Greetings, friends! Welcome back to town!”
We smiled, waved, and said hi.
Seeing him reenage with the guests, which looked important, we continued a couple of buildings down to the Mary Dickenson shop, which we discovered was closed.
Returning to the Roscow Cole house, we saw that Patrick Henry was still busy with the guests.
MEETING A BLOG READER
Then a lady walked up and said my name.
I had to think a moment.
Turned out it was one of my blog readers, Lucy!
She said she’d be there and would say hi to us if she saw us.
MICROPHONE AND CAMERA SUDDENLY APPEARED IN MY FACE
As we stood there talking, a guy held a giant microphone in front of my face to interview me, while a massive video camera appeared out of nowhere, shooting footage of my face, mere inches away, shot footage.
That completely caught me off guard!
This was a like a professional “television-type” interview! Can you believe it????
INTERVIEWED ABOUT LIFE SINCE MY HUSBAND IS AWAY FIGHTING IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The interviewer asked me if I had a husband in the war, as he nodded to the British troops surrounding us.
Um, “no, Iām only a guest.”
Repeating his question, I realized he wanted me to play along, since the kids and I were in costume.
Reliving my 21st century military wife experiences helped me tell an 18th century story.
I admitted my husband was in the military and had to go to “war.”
He liked that so he kept me going, prompting me for more information.
I talked about how difficult it is to have a husband away at war.
A wife worries. What is happening that moment?
The last communication might not be the latest information. Alive? Injured? Dead? Missing in Action?
Meanwhile we moved discussion to the home front, where I must exude confidence to my children that all is well, so that they can be free from too much worry.
I have additional concerns, since I now must carry my husband’s responsibilities as well as my own.
He asked about the community of Williamsburg. Do they help me?
Indeed, the community helps in these situations, and I gave some examples.
He went on to say something supportive, thanking me for my husband’s contribution and my sacrifice and carrying on so that he could carry on.
I told him I gained my fortitude partially from support such as his, and from the community…In unity there is strength.
He mentioned about my independence.
Indeed. I confirmed the circumstances of war and running the home front while my husband is at war has made me more independent.
In fact, when my husband came home for a season, my new found independence caused some issues, to which the interviewer laughed.
Then he said something in follow-up then signed off, something like…”And that is life today in Williamsburg.”
INTERVIEWER WALKS OVER TO PATRICK HENRY, STILL BEHIND THE TREES
Then the interviewer and camera man walked over to Patrick Henry!
Wow!
He was such a great interviewer! So professional!
I felt like I was talking to a real newsman. Perhaps I was. He made me feel so comfortable that I was able to relax and convey my real-life experiences into the time travel of the 18th century.
I realize I could have done my interpretation better, but my goodness, I’ve never done this before in my life!
BEST OF THE ROAD FROM RAND MCNALLY INTERVIEWED ME
When I told a CW employee friend about this, she told me that Rand McNally’s Best of the Road arrived in Colonial Williamsburg Saturday, because the historic area is a finalist for being the most patriotic city in America.
Wow! I hope I helped them achieve that!
Later that day I found their bus parked outside the historic area!
Further research informed me that the guests were with Patrick Henry were Captain and Clark from Best of the Road!
WILLIAMSBURG NAMED AS ONE OF SIX MOST PATRIOTIC SMALL TOWNS IN AMERICA
Captain and Clark are on a mission to visit each of the six nominated towns to find the most patriotic one.
Their videos are exceptional.
Looks like my video hit the proverbial cutting room floor. š
The video clips from 2011 include:
- June 24 ā Let Freedom Ring
- June 25 ā Williamsburg Day 1
- June 26 ā A Taste of Williamsburg, Virginia
- June 26 ā What is patriotism in Williamsburg?
- June 27 ā Captain and Clark visit Williamsburg
- June 27 ā Jamestown the Cradle of America
- June 27 ā Williamsburg wrap up
Meanwhile, read more about our fun adventures during this three day weekend, while we were dressed as an 18th century family:
Friday we watched the troops arrive, learned that the CW Patrick Henry was arrested by the Redcoats, and purchased a book about Patrick Henry. Richard Schumann, the Colonial Williamsburg interpreter who famously portrays Patrick Henry, wrote the preface, which is informative and humorous! That post is here.
For my journal from the perspective of a citizen of Williamsburg in 1781, of the occupation of the British, which details the reenactment of Under the Redcoat, that post is here.
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
EPILOGUE
Alas, the links are now broken. Too bad, because they were so good.
