Today, on Jane Austen’s 234th birthday, I am recalling one of the grandest events of my lifetime. I’m not referring to my wedding, nor the days my children were born. Nothing can compare to those days, but this was a great literary event that my husband and I attended in 2007 – A Jane Austen Gala!
Playing make believe was really fun for the Jane Austen Gala. That kind of thing may not be everyone’s cup o’ tea, but I tell you this, I have not had so much fun in ages! Though it wasn’t just dressing up in costume and attending the event that I enjoyed, but the preparation, the research, the blogging, the creating, the comradery, the reading Jane Austen and watching movies based on her books, the anticipation, the date with my husband! It was not just “making believe”, it was living history. As a writer, avid reader of regency romance, and history fanatic this affair was thrilling for me and truly brought me closer in my experience to that which I have ever been to this era.
Ah, but my attendance at a Regency Ball has caused me to consider how many ladies back then, who shared the meager position of my own, would have wished for such a chance. I was blessed that despite my humble lot in life that I was able to attend such an elegant event. Elizabeth Bennett dancing. Dancing with her own Mr. Darcy.
In God’s kingdom we are not limited by economy, but are blessed by His glorious riches.
If you’d like to see my blog posts about Jane Austen and our preparation
for the Jane Austen Gala please go to the category dropdown menu
and click on Jane Austen. As you read, be mindful that you’ll see
the later entries first. At the bottom of the page
click on PREVIOUS ENTRIES.
To celebrate Jane’s birthday I’ve visited some Jane websites and now I’m going to have a cup of tea and watch something Jane Austenish like Pride and Prejudice or Lost in Austen. How are you celebrating her birthday?
