Jaida al-Sahrawiyya

10/2025 thoughts: People had gotten used to me running the event by this point. To the point where House Misfits went out of their way to make me a special basket to present me during the Hospitality Contest. It was so sweet that I literally had to step away for a moment so that I could grapple with my emotions at someone noticing my habits in this way.

I still don’t have all my words yet, but there was a moment this weekend that I need to give a shout-out about. Last year, our (now previous) Seneschal Sabina suggested we add a Hospitality Contest to Banner War. It was a successful contest, so we brought it back this year. I knew Their Excellencies would be plied with hydration and snack, but both years, everyone offered myself and the Guests of the Coronets libations as well! It was wonderful!

However, some of you have learned that I don’t like to share food, so often don’t participate in open snack spreads.

This year, House Misfits were already nailing it with their wonderful presentation, but off to the side, Aveerahn (April Janson) came up to me and handed me this basket of snackage, because she remembered I likely wouldn’t eat much on the roam (or in general cause as usual I was wearing 3 hats at once).

I was so moved by this I had to leave their camp for a couple of moments to have a small cry about it.

She and Caoimhe – hope by Gaia I spelled that right (Tanya Yakovleff Smith) were so excited cause the basket has a foldable handle, and if that wasn’t the cutest thing ever, I don’t know what is