#FindOutFriday Answers 44

We are in April already! Can you believe spring is here? I can't. I also can't believe it's Friday. Here are the #TriviaTuesday answers. How many did you get right? Comment below!

1. Lesbos - The third largest island in Greece, the land of Lesbos is often associated with the word lesbian, and with reason. The ancient Greek poet, Sappho, was born there. Tradition stated that she was a lesbian herself. Her poems were littered with love and desire, mostly between women. This island and semi-famous poet inspired the idea of Stepnick and the Swan in Through the Meadow. Stepnick was an island where dying women retired and moved onto the other side. The Swan herself was a woman who wrote poems, prose and more about her experiences in a loveless marriage and the deep love she held for her female lovers. Her followers were called Cygnets or Swans.

2. Homeowners Associations (HOAs) - Everybody has seen the videos. The people from the HOA, citing obnoxiously into the camera that you are violating some silly rule. They measured your bushes and they're too tall. The decorations were out for too long. The children were too loud and their little wading pool was the wrong color. This came to life in From Across the Sea in the form of the village elders in the Cherls village of Tet. In the fictional world, they would decide who could live where, the activities and holidays, civil defense and more. They could also evict someone for any reason!

3. King Edward II of England - This is a tricky one because most historians don't accept that this King (reigned 1307-1327) was gay, or at least bisexual. I do. The way he acted with these "friends" - Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser (the Younger) - tells me otherwise. As the story goes, Edward's wife, Isabella (commonly and mistakenly known as the She-Wolf of France), went to France with their son to secure a French alliance. Instead, Edward was disposed by her forces. Edward eventually disappears from history, probably killed. While the ending is different, the fictional King Norman of Pithea in Through the Meadow and From Across the Sea was inspired by the idea that Edward was gay. He openly keeps his lovers in front of his wife (Queen Dorothy), which Edward did to Isabella, and had no trouble showing they were the favorites.

That's it! Tune in next week for #BehindTheScenes and then perhaps a break. Namaste! Have a great weekend, everyone!

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