Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes to have any such tall tales sent to her. Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
> Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, > 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His > wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the > telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes > to have any such tall tales sent to her. > Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to > drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:12:38 -0700 (PDT), an orbital mind-control laser caused nerak <ne...@aol.com> to write:
>Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, >2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His >wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the >telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes >to have any such tall tales sent to her.
My favorite Starhelm story is from when Meridies was a fairly new kingdom. Sir Francois was king, and was trying to have a fairly important discussion with a couple of Great Officers, but a rather clueless newbie kept trying to interrupt them. Francois finally stopped to see what it was the kid wanted. His question was "Sir Francois, how do you keep your tights up?"
Exasperated, Francois said "thumbtacks" and went back to the meeting.
The poor newbie walked off, and the first person he met was Starhelm. "Sir Starhelm," he asked, "why did Sir Francois tell me he uses thumbtacks to keep his tights up?"
"Becauses he uses *inch long* thumbtacks" said Starhelm.
-Tivar Moondragon Ansteorra
Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions. It's the only way to make progress.
-Havelock Vetinari in "The Truth" by Terry Pratchett
On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:12:38 -0700 (PDT), an orbital mind-control laser caused nerak <ne...@aol.com> to write:
>Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, >2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His >wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the >telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes >to have any such tall tales sent to her.
My favorite Starhelm story is from when Meridies was a fairly new kingdom. Sir Francois was king, and was trying to have a fairly important discussion with a couple of Great Officers, but a rather clueless newbie kept trying to interrupt them. Francois finally stopped to see what it was the kid wanted. His question was "Sir Francois, how do you keep your tights up?"
Exasperated, Francois said "thumbtacks" and went back to the meeting.
The poor newbie walked off, and the first person he met was Starhelm. "Sir Starhelm," he asked, "why did Sir Francois tell me he uses thumbtacks to keep his tights up?"
"Becauses he uses *inch long* thumbtacks" said Starhelm.
-Tivar Moondragon Ansteorra
Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions. It's the only way to make progress.
-Havelock Vetinari in "The Truth" by Terry Pratchett
> SirStarhelmof Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, > 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His > wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the > telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes > to have any such tall tales sent to her. > Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to > drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
I haven't seen Milord Starhelm in years; I left the Society over twenty years ago because of a disagreement, and never went back.
But I was there when Starhelm was knighted, at Francois' coronation in the old state capitol building in Baton Rouge, in '79. My first Coronation. As I recall, Bear and Froggy had to get him just a wee bit drunk to talk him into accepting; Mike's persona was that of the commander of the elven legions sworn to the service of Arthur Pendragon upon his return. Accepting knighthood and fealty to an earthly liege was against his character, so after getting him relaxed, Bear and Scott said they'd tweak the wording of the knight's oath in order to allow Mike to swear without violating the spirit of his character.
It worked, too.
The only other story I have about him is the Tale of the Grand Carnicus, which may have been forgotten by many but was told to me by Lady Yaraddin, Lady Merewin, and Lord Llewellyn, with a bit of reluctant input from Mistress Samara.
I've been away from the Society for a long, long time, and sadly Starhelm and I were never close. But he was a good and noble man, and his death hurts. Bad. Ganelon
Mike was a rare and interesting individual. My very first meeting with him and simultaneous introduction to SCA culture went something like this:
Set the Way Back Machine for the Fall of 1973 (I think!). I had journeyed back to my hometown of Baton Rouge to spend a few days visiting and old friend and was staying in my friend's house. One evening my friend was at work and I was alone waiting for his return. After a bit a knock came at the front door. Looking out the little window in the door I see someone in a Barrel Helm and a suit of mail carrying a broadsword and a shield. Thinking to myself "Okaayyy. this neighborhood is getting weird" I proceed to open the door. What happened next was all too typical of SO many SCA NSTIW stories.
Mike, for his part, sees a "stranger" inside our mutual friends home.
As I open the door I find myself the victim of a SHIELD PRESS to the wall in the foyer. As I look up at his raised broadsword our beloved hero says in a loud voice "HOLD !! Varlet !! Who are you and why are you in ____'s house!!"
My reply: " LOOK DOWN!"
Well "looking down" wasn't to easy in a barrel helm so our hero takes a half step back.
It is at this moment, reinforced by the sound of the hammer being cocked, that our hero realizes that I am holding a Colt .45ACP 1911A1 PISTOL pressed firmly against his ribs.
His reply " OH !!!!"
I say " Now backup, DROP the SWORD, SIT DOWN, take off the funny hat and tell ME who YOU are !!!!!!! "
Well once we had a chance to catch our breath and talk it out we both agreed that maybe we could just start "over". Fine by me! Apologies offered and accepted on both sides.
Just one other thing, He asked me if " Maybe we could just never mention that this happened? "
He then proceeded to give me the complete SCA "sales pitch".
After all these years and all my "SCA mileage" I have never told anyone about this.
However, there is one thing I always wanted to tell Sir Starhelm but sadly I have never had the chance (I hope Valhalla has a Usenet feed!).
You see the one thing that Mike never knew, was that the Gun wasn't loaded.
> Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, > 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His > wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the > telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes > to have any such tall tales sent to her. > Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to > drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
>Mike was a rare and interesting individual. My very first meeting with him >and simultaneous introduction to SCA culture went something like this:
>Set the Way Back Machine for the Fall of 1973 (I think!). I had journeyed >back to my hometown of Baton Rouge to spend a few days visiting and old >friend and was staying in my friend's house. One evening my friend was at >work and I was alone waiting for his return. After a bit a knock came at the >front door. Looking out the little window in the door I see someone in a >Barrel Helm and a suit of mail carrying a broadsword and a shield. Thinking >to myself "Okaayyy. this neighborhood is getting weird" I proceed to open >the door. What happened next was all too typical of SO many SCA NSTIW >stories.
>Mike, for his part, sees a "stranger" inside our mutual friends home.
>As I open the door I find myself the victim of a SHIELD PRESS to the wall in >the foyer. As I look up at his raised broadsword our beloved hero says in a >loud voice "HOLD !! Varlet !! Who are you and why are you in ____'s > house!!"
>My reply: " LOOK DOWN!"
>Well "looking down" wasn't to easy in a barrel helm so our hero takes a half >step back.
>It is at this moment, reinforced by the sound of the hammer being cocked, >that our hero realizes that I am holding a Colt .45ACP 1911A1 PISTOL pressed >firmly against his ribs.
>His reply " OH !!!!"
>I say " Now backup, DROP the SWORD, SIT DOWN, take off the funny hat and >tell ME who YOU are !!!!!!! "
>Well once we had a chance to catch our breath and talk it out we both agreed >that maybe we could just start "over". Fine by me! Apologies offered and >accepted on both sides.
>Just one other thing, He asked me if " Maybe we could just never mention >that this happened? "
>He then proceeded to give me the complete SCA "sales pitch".
>After all these years and all my "SCA mileage" I have never told anyone >about this.
>However, there is one thing I always wanted to tell Sir Starhelm but sadly I >have never had the chance (I hope Valhalla has a Usenet feed!).
>You see the one thing that Mike never knew, was that the Gun wasn't loaded.
>Corwin
>"nerak" <ne...@aol.com> wrote in message >news:379936d9-5076-496f-a37c-85644a426579@27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com... >> Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, >> 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His >> wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the >> telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes >> to have any such tall tales sent to her. >> Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to >> drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
> Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, > 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His > wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the > telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes > to have any such tall tales sent to her. > Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to > drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
A truly free spirit. Many looked up to and admired him for not only his many skills and rapier wit but the joyfulness and optimism he brought to whatever he was involved with. I have long regretted that time and geography separated us.
I have so many memories of Sir Starhelm. I remember a dance performance by the Kimaden dancers. All those pretty ladies and, oh, whose that dancer dressed in white with their face covered (all but the eyes)?? What fun it was to watch the dawning of recognition upon the populace's faces!! He was able to use an inkleloom~The green apprentice belt I wore was woven by Starhelm. It's said that a person doesn't die if they are remembered. Starhelm lives in memory & my heart. My love goes out to Nerak. Laurie Maynard McConnell (known at one time as Lady Brianna ni' Barrach)
> Sir Starhelm of Meridies aka Mike Boelter, died suddently on June 25, > 2008. Cause of Death was a heart attack with no prior warning. His > wife of 28 years, Mistress Nerak, requests that he be remember by the > telling and re-telling of "No Shit, There He Was" stories, and wishes > to have any such tall tales sent to her. > Formal Wake to be held on Horde Hill at Pennsic, but fee free to > drink to his memory where ever you encounter his echo.
