So, it begins

The momentum of the events of the last few weeks has given me the push needed to put thoughts to words, before the unrelenting tides of time wear away at the bright edges of memory.

Just a few short weeks ago, a friend and fellow Tolkien Society volunteer texted me and said there was a chance that the few of us who were US based might be be able to go to a special screening of the first two episodes of Amazon Prime’s LOTR The Rings of Power in New York City, in just a few days hence. My initial reaction went from “Wow that’s awesome – but I probably can’t afford to go”, to “well at least I can look up airfares”, to ” LET’S GOOOO”. The ensuing weekend was a whirlwind of searching for a fancy dress and accessories, packing, and convincing myself that I wasn’t dreaming. Being “just a girl from Kansas”, I’m not exactly used to getting invited to such affairs. By that I mean I’ve NEVER been to this sort of event. (Many thanks here to TS Chair Shaun Gunner for making sure we weren’t forgotten!).

The event being on a Tuesday, our plan was to fly into NYC on Monday, have a nice dinner, then have the whole day to rest and prepare for the evening. The day dawned with excitement, but a meddlesome storm system that obstinately insisted on planting itself squarely over the entire Tri-state area had different plans for us and other travelers. My day spiraled into more delays/cancelations/rebookings/rinse/repeat than can be told here. I ended up getting rerouted through Chicago, miraculously got the last seat on a flight to Hartford, and then took a 6am train to Penn Station. But…we made it. My friend had delays as well, being temporarily diverted to Baltimore at one point. And as we found out later on from other friends at the event, most everyone that was not a local had some kind of harrowing travel story, and if you’ve seen the hashtag “ISurvivedGettingToNYC” around the event, now you know.

NYC has a great energy about it. I would never want to live there, but it sure is fun to visit. Making my way from the train station to the apartment where we were staying, coffee now in hand, I took in with a relish the juxtaposition of leafy trees hanging over wrought iron railing, beeping taxis, endless skyscrapers, and the stereotypical construction workers, jackhammer in hand, standing in holes in the middle of the street and still managing to have a conversation about their weekend.

*EDIT – Unintentionally, but befitting the title of this blog, I pick this up approximately 2.5 years later. Though rather apropos, I suppose, as ROP seasons are nearly as far apart.

Soooo, what happened next, you may wonder? (If you’ve read this far!) The event itself was a wonderful experience, shared with some dear friends that were also in attendance, and with new friends made there as well. We attended a reception with the cast and producers, and then walked over to the Lincoln Theatre to watch the first two episodes, and then had a Q&A with JD, Patrick, and Lindsey. I was able to meet a good few of the cast, and had a lovely chat with Lloyd and Charlie – who is far too nice a person to ever imagine him playing one of the cruelest villains of all time! Actors are amazing. (Whatever anyone may think of the show itself, the people involved in creating it are the loveliest and mostly down to earth folk you could imagine, so please be kind in your words about them! Or else. Okay, good…that’s settled).

Afterwards we grabbed a late dinner, crashed the Amazon party at the hotel, then found a wonderful little Irish pub that was open til the wee hours, which we commandeered for an impromptu trivia night hosted by none other than the inestimable Corey Olsen (the very embodiment of chaotic good).

So here we are now in 2025! Despite the mixed reviews the show has gotten, and my own criticisms of it, I’ve still enjoyed it for the most part, and the trip to NYC remains one of the most memorable events of my life. That I got to experience it with friends (and make new friends through it) makes the memory even sweeter.

What will this blog be about? That is still a bit nebulous, and if you’ve continued reading this far, thank you! There have been many adventures take place since I started this blog, so I suppose a retelling of events is in order. Tomorrow is Tolkien Reading Day 2025, and as I write this, I am preparing to head for a local library branch to give a brief talk about Tolkien, and do a favourite reading. Hopefully the next post will not take quite so long to get to, and hopefully someone may want to read it.

Namarië for now dear reader! May the stars shine upon your face

Elbereth