I grew up doing historical reenactment with my family. Not only was I involved with one of the more historical aspects of the Renaissance Festival (Irish Cottage),but we also did a lot of reenactment with the MN Scottish Clann Tartan. The Clann would travel to different festivals and Rendezvous, setting up canvas tents and demonstrating crafts of the time.

As a kid, I got to learn all sorts of old-school skills. Sewing, embroidery, singing folk tunes, carding and spinning wool into yarn. I loved helping out at the cooks fire most. Somewhere out there is a picture of 9 year old me being dangled over a HUGE cauldron.

Sometimes, I helped my dad play historical doctor. I learned a little bit about how licorice root was used as tooth brushes and mint for calming stomachs. One time, I got to play nurse on a battle field reenactment. My doctor father was running around helping the wounded. Set up ahead of time was a bit involving the fake amputation of a guy with a real prosthetic leg. It was fantastic.

As a reenactor, you get asked all sorts of questions. “Are you hot in those clothes?” “Where do you sleep?” “Is that a real fire?” As someone who has had to put up with stupid comments and questions, I have become a huge fan of the new web series “Ask a Slave”

I’m a little jealous that she gets to handle dumber questions than I did, though. Cause racism.

Go, watch, and learn a thing or two about how stupid we can be.