On Shells and Gemstones

[chargirlgenius]

I don’t know if it’s a recent trend, or just something I’ve only just noticed. But as of late, there have been a lot of people referring to members of the Order of the Pearl* as bivalves. At first, I thought it was just a clever little joke, but being as pedantic as I am, it eventually started to kind of bug me.

Don’t get me wrong. People I love and adore very much use this nickname, and I don’t think any less of them for doing so, rather I just want to express my opinion on the matter. Because that’s what I do. :-D

Moving on. We are not bivalves. Bivalves, or oysters, clams, scallops, mussels, etc., themselves, are common, not rare, nor particularly valued. If anything, they’re eaten, and then the shells are discarded. But there’s nothing very special about your average mussel. (I know some connoisseurs might beg to differ…)

But the pearls inside! The pearls are the unique and extraordinary part! Not ever oyster grows a pearl. Some are natural pearls, some are cultured, but all are considered gemstones.

The Pearls of Atlantia are gemstones. We’re not just mussels to be bought by the bucket and discarded. Although, if you attend court at Twelfth Night is might *seem* like there are bucketfuls of Pearls up front when our numbers are increased. ;-) Each one is a gem, beautiful and valued, much more than a simple bivalve.


*Kingdom-level arts and sciences order in Atlantia

Comments

[pinkleader.livejournal.com]

Thank You!

[paquerette.livejournal.com]

But the B12 content! So nutritious! ;)

[greta-k.livejournal.com]

I've always found it rather strange to be referred to as a "bivalve." Thank you for the reference to "gemstones," for that we are :-)

[hazebrouck.livejournal.com]

I like my bivalves cooked in a bucket, brought to the table in same with good french bread, frites and a dark Trappist.

A pearl is a gem made out of irritating bivalves a small amount for a very long time. So, a bunion, perhaps.

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's no worse than the Dolphins referring to ourselves as "goldfish".

[strawberrykaren.livejournal.com]

I prefer to think of the Pearls as being nacreous.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

See, this I can live with, because it's at least technically correct. :-D

[janinas-nest.livejournal.com]

At one point our extended clan described itself as having a variety of peers and 'a whole string of Pearls'. I am proud of being a Pearl and admire all of the gems in our treasure chest.

[jljonsn.livejournal.com]

Good collective term!

I heard this weekend that a grouping of Dukes was known as a "Girth". ;)

Would a conglomeration of Laurels be a "Wreath"? Maybe a "Snark"?

[stringmonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm OK with being a bivalve. I guess I'm more comfortable with the idea of me making treasures than necessarily being one. But I hate hearing the term used in Court or other formal occasions.

That said, "The Irritated Bivalves" would make a great name for a punk band.

[thornbury.livejournal.com]

In my mind, only one duke will be thought of when hearing the word 'girth'.

[marymont.livejournal.com]

Or the Lux Caidis being the Steaming Pile of P00?

I'm a Principality Dolphin, and I don't think I've ever heard the goldfish reference.

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

Different Order. Caid and Atlantia both use Dolphins for the kingdom (in Atlantia, grant-level) service award. The Atlantian one is specifically the Order of the Golden Dolphin, hence the "goldfish" thing.

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

Favorite moment at Pennsic, lo these many years ago. The shieldwalls had broken, and I found myself facing, with spear leveled at him, Aonghais the Accursed. Couldn't figure out why he didn't just charge and waste me. Then, I realized he was looking BEHIND me. At Gyrth. Then, Cariadoc popped out from behind HIM, and said, "Greetings, your Grace! As you can see, we've hidden another whole army behind Duke Gyrth, here!".

Aonghais left the area.

[marymont.livejournal.com]

Aha. Caid's Dolphin is silver, and is AoA level service.

[marymont.livejournal.com]

Good sir, please don't use that terminology for Duke Aonghais. He still has family in the SCA and on Live Journal. Your personal animosity aside, he was well-loved by some.

Thank you.

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

Hm, doesn't seem to be a way to edit the above post. Consider the reference changed to "Aonghais the Black" (English translation of "Dubh"), if you will.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Once a comment has been responded to, it can no longer be edited. You *can* delete it and repost, but it'll just show as deleted with Marymont's as a response to the deletion. Some people hate deletions, but if you'd like to, I don't mind.

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

No sweat. I actually knew the guy personally, and some of the "animosity" she refers to IS personal, with me.

[leofwynne.livejournal.com]

I know I haven't played recently, but damn, I do not want to be a bivalve. A gem, yes, "nacreous" absolutely, but....a bivalve?? No.

[syrrichard.livejournal.com]

As picky as the Pearls have gotten, you'd think they would demand a correction. Perhaps we only have to put the right documentation out there.

LoL!

This topic makes me clammy...

[beatrixherald.livejournal.com]

No Matter How you feel about the topic, Charlie expressed it in a VERY eloquent (as usual) way.

I think some people can get a little "uppity" about their awards, and having silly little nicknames is a great way to show your humility.

We'll see if the same is true when the silly nicknames are about me. ;)

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Oh, certainly. But I like *correct* silly nicknames. Like "Nacreous Irritant".