Gypsy Rosa Lee
First Person Survey for: Gypsy
Rosa Lee
Name Given at Birth: Rosa Lee
Nicknames: Why would you wish to call me something besides my name? I am called ‘sister’ by my sisters, or ‘cousin’ by my cousins, and Belladonna does call me Peaches, but everyone else just calls me Rosa Lee.
Hometown or where you were born: In the back of our family’s vardo. Where it was, I do not know, I was not paying attention at the time.
Current Residence: My vardo, wherever it may rest at the end of the day.
Age: I never tell my age, this way I can not be caught up in a false lie later. But I am old enough to know better and young enough to not care. If you must know, I shall swear you to secrecy. If you are ever telling another soul, I will be forced to cut out your tongue and have it for dinner.... Now, if you are still wanting to know, I have seen over 40 summers.
Class: Gypsies are a class unto themselves.
What do you do, your main function in life/society: I think that a gypsies main function in life is to remind people of the importance of playing to the fullest. I do perform some small services for the King and the Maestro upon occasion. If my travels for them may help to bring a coin or two for my purse, it is all the better.
Do you know how to swim? It was not willingly, but when the boat you are on sinks, you must learn to swim, or you will drown. This is an important lesson I have learned. But to go into the water willingly or for pleasure, never. You do know what is in the water, do you not?
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping? You would not go into the water with your clothes on, they would get wet!
Do you make fun of people: I think it is foolish for gypsy to make fun of people. We are not so well thought of that we may say or do whatever we are wishing. My life may depend someday on the good word of anyone. If I have made fun of them, they might not remember me kindly.
Favorite Color: Black - it is the color of the night when a gypsy may slip through the shadows unobserved. I also love green for it is the color of spring and new beginnings.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: Crime is such an ugly word. What is law but a set of rules you live by? I just choose to live by a different set of rules then everyone else.
Closest friends/How did you meet: I am gypsy, I have many friends.
- Bess the Bard – we have shared many an adventure in our youth. It is one of our favorite entertainments to dress as high class citizens and see if we may be believed. We also share a love of writing and tales of adventure.
- The Maestro – he does so resemble my lost husband, Angelo. But the Maestro is my dear friend in his own way. Bess, Sarah Lee and I did travel with him for many years as part of his show – Maestro’s Angels. The things I could tell. But I won’t, he pays me well to keep his secrets.
- Belladonna Boleyn – I think she has forgiven me the fire which so changed all of our lives. We work together on many projects, and I do enjoy traveling with her caravan from time to time. I am teaching her the gypsy dance of passion whenever she has time from her many duties that the Maestro does heap upon her head.
- Mandragora Boleyn – How could you but help but love Mandra?
- Esmerelda - I have known her since she was small and I have always found her to be joyful and independent. She did travel with us for a while and did train as part of the Maestro's Angels. We are truly sisters, although not of the same blood.
- Djali Boleyn - Djali is my God Daughter and another almost like a sister. I love to listen to her tales. She truly has her father's gift of... embellishment. I am hoping the Maestro will let me teach her the Gypsy Dance of Passion. If I may help her to escape from her chores from time to time, well this is a secret between you and me.
- Georgio Boleyn - one of the Maestro's sons. He does play the gypsy violin sweetly, and he always does make my feet to dance. Georgio does travel much in his work for the Maestro and does not always make it to Canterbury for the Harvest Festival, so it always makes me happy to know that he will be there. I always like to remember when he was young and used to like to stand on the roofs of the shops to play his violin.
- The gypsies of the Troupe Festivale - my sisters and I have traveled with them upon occasion and have found them to be excellent company. Xavier is one of my favorites, he is always willing to fix whatever may be broken on our own vardo and asks only a smile and a hug in recompense.
- All of the Boleyn gypsies - they are the family of my heart. When my own Angelo was lost in the terrible fire, they comforted me greatly.
- I can not forget Leopold Bloome and Fraydrick Doublet - Gentlemen of exquisite tastes, they are two of my best customers for whatever I am finding in my travels. I must confess that it is Fraydrick who does aid Bess and I whenever we are feeling that we are wanting to fool the royalty. He always has a dress or two in construction which he very generously does let us 'borrow' for our deceptions. Of course, he does not always know that we are borrowing them. Sh... do not tell him!
- Sarah Lee – although she has left to live a life with Izzie Good, Sarah Lee continues to be one of my closest friends. We spent many years together and she will join us sometimes traveling in the vardo for love of her sisters and the adventure.
- My Sister – Of course my sister is my close companion and friend. We travel the world over and have had many adventures together.
- I do look forward to my time in Canterbury when I may see all my old friends and make many new ones.
One Pillow or two: I do only sleep with one pillow below my head, but I like to add new feathers from every place I have visited, so it is a very LARGE pillow. If course I do have a second pillow just in case I am ever needing it for company.
Pets: A gypsy lives a precarious life. We might have to move on at any time. We do not have pets. We have the dog that guards our vardo when my sister and I are not about. We have a cat that keeps our vardo free of rats and mice. Then, there is also the horse that pulls our wagon. These animals are not pets, they work as hard as my sisters and I do and they are part of our family.
Favorite Type of Music: Gypsy music played around the fire. There is nothing more romantic than to hear the gypsy violin playing as the fire is dying down and the stars shine overhead. The Maestro's son Georgio does play the sweetest music I have ever heard.
Hobbies/Pastimes: I do much enjoy teaching the Gypsy Dance of Passion. It is my desire to teach it every man I do meet. I am also now teaching the gypsy dance of passion to Djali and Esmerelda. They are sisters of my heart and I feel they should know it, too. Then there is torturing the magistrate. This is a very delicate game, for you can not push him too hard or a gypsy will find herself in the stocks for the day!
Personal Hygiene: I seek to keep my breath sweet and my face and hands clean.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: My sister and I returned to the vardo late one evening to find our parents were gone. They left no sign of where they had gone or why. They are very forgetful, always leaving without us, but we had always caught up with them before. Now, wherever we go, we do look for our forgetful parents.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: I do not think they are dead. Sometimes I wonder if the fae folk did not take them, so completely did they disappear. I ask every fairy that I do see if they have seen my mama & papa. I have not found them yet.
Favorite Food: The Spanish have a wonderful food called chocolate. It is sinful and almost better than the gypsy dance of passion. I do like the strawberries when they are in season, sweet and freshly picked from the vine, they are always better when you have someone to share them with.
Favorite place to relax: Beside a roaring fire with my gypsy friends and the sound of gypsy music to stir our blood and arouse our senses. Perhaps that is not so relaxing after all.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: I do love the day of Christ’s birth. It is the holiest of days. And I love to give the gifts I have found in my travels to the people I love.
Favorite Drink: Good, clean water. I do not like the stronger drink for it addles the senses and dims the brain. When you are working in the service of the King, you can not afford to have addled senses. A gypsy may well end up dead that way.
What's your bedtime: Whenever I grow tired and lay my head upon my pillow.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Shoes suitable for dancing, whether that be bare of foot, gypsy leathers or red boots.
Are you married or single: Many years ago I was married to Angelo (who, by the way, is twin brother to the Maestro, and brother to our good Queen). Alas he did perish in the terrible fire of 1576.
Do you have a family / who are they: I have many sisters, more than I could name here. I travel with one of them this season, though I carry them all in my heart wherever I may go. I do also count as family the gypsy family Boleyn. Their brother Angelo was my one true love and it comforts me to see them. I am God Mother to Djali and it is my delight to spoil her whenever I may.
Favorite Entertainment: Gypsy Dance of Passion, also I do like to spread my nets upon occasion to see what men I may catch in them.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Dancing. To dance to the drums or the gypsy violin is to lose yourself. It is almost like dancing with God.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Taking care of my sisters. I do love them greatly, but I would rather be playing or dancing.
Favorite Sport: Fishing for Men. You never know what you are going to catch when you throw out your lines. I also enjoy to torture the Magistrate by offering to teaching him the 'gypsy dance of passion.' The contortions he goes through to escape are very funny to watch and very educational.
Most Humiliating Moment: I suppose that people would say it would be the great fire of 1576 which was such a tragedy. Many people think that this is my fault. It was not. But the only person who could prove what I say is true was my husband Angelo, who, alas, did perish in the blaze. More than the most humiliating moment, it is also the greatest tragedy of my life.
Proudest Moment: To be wed to my Angelo. I shall always remember standing at the handfasting, his hand in mine. He was the most handsome man in the world, at least to me. Now whenever I teach the gypsy dance of passion, I think of him.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: I think perhaps the Maestro. The schemes he has gotten my sisters and me into in our travels! It is amazing we are alive today to tell it. Oh, but I promised him I would not tell, and his secrets are safe with me. Well, as safe as a secret could be with a gypsy.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: A twinkle in the eye and a smile upon the face. Although the chink of coin in the purse is also good.
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord"? Perhaps that could be viewed as the Maestro himself. Although I think he knows better than to actually try to make me do something I do not wish to do.
How Do You Feel about that person: I do respect him greatly and admire him. He has attained a place in gypsy society that is almost legendary. He has taken the status of gypsies and raised them to the place of royalty. None dare accost us for fear of incurring the wrath of the Queen.
Favorite Sport to watch: I do enjoy to watch the joust and see the handsome knights upon the horses.
Do you remember your first kiss: I do remember this. It is a very fond memory of Angelo. It was late in the night. We had spent the evening dancing around the fire with friends and family. I remember the stars were shining brightly and someone was playing a low sad song upon their fiddle. Angelo did lean in close to whisper in my ear; when I turned to him, he kissed me gently and sweetly. It seemed as if time had stopped for the two of us. I had hoped that he felt as I did for him, but I did not know for sure until that moment. There were many more kisses after that, but I will always remember that one.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: Gypsies have a way of finding the people which they wish to see again.
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: Anywhere I happen to be at the moment. Although Canterbury is very dear to me for it is where Angelo and I were wed.
Have you ever been overseas: Over the sea, in the sea, under the sea. It is how I am learning to swim.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: The floor of the vardo is wood, but unless it is rainy or cold I prefer to sleep outside with the stars for my roof and the sweet green grass for my bed.
What is your bed made of: Well, it is either the floor of the vardo with naught but my skirts beneath and a blanket to cover me, or the green grass under the wagon.
How many people sleep in your bed: Many nights there is only me on the grass under the stars.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me
- I am a gypsy
- Djali is my God Daughter.
- I have been known, upon occasion, to help Djali 'avoid' her chores.
- I do spoil her terribly.
- Esmerelda did travel with the troupe 'The Maestro's Angel's' and did train with us.
- I was married to Angelo, twin brother to the maestro, and brother to the Queen.