A few days ago I went down the rabbit hole of genealogy. I love that term, rabbit hole. So crude, yet so mysterious. My sister-in-law asked me about “our Family”. In the words of my departed Mother, I didn’t have a clue. But down I went. ( Just there, as I typed the letter I, for myself, me, the person that I am, the algorithm changed it to ai- artificial intelligence.)
I digress. It seems that is my very essence- Digression. I fell into a major digression, not a minor aggression. Anyway to cut to the chase, as they say, I went online and googled my grandparents, found out new information I had never known, been told, or at the very least, even if I was told, remembered. I am of Huguenot blood on my mother’s side, and Upper Empire Loyalist on my father’s side. So by rights and blood I should be a monarchist. God Save The Queen. But as an ex-punk, my feelings are more complicated than that. Anywho, I respect my elders ( like Bill), and the Queen, and raise a glass for almost any reason. She has survived and endured when mere mortals have fallen into rabbit holes. And for that, she earns my respect.
My royal tour memory is similar to yours. I was hauled out of bed at midnight to stand with my father and grandparents on the sidewalk in front of the Stratford court house to see a few dark cars whisk by, no doubt making a quick loop from the train station.
I also remember seeing her picture at the front of every classroom in elementary school. At least she was more attractive than Mao and Khrushchev. I remember thinking she was old.
I too, have a murky memory of a royal visit, only in Vancouver in the early 60’s; my mother having taken me downtown to see the Queen. After some research, it was initially worrying that there was no royal tour to Canada at that time…but, BUT, the Queen’s plane gassed up in Vancouver before going on to a tour of Australia, and she spent the night in town, likely at the Hotel Vancouver. I found photographic evidence in the City of Vancouver Archives of the big black car and the back of Prince Phillip’s head, February 1, 1963. That is not how I remember it, though. I remember an open car, not black but light blue, and the Queen looking directly at me, although she didn’t wave. Also an impression of pale yellow somewhere. Perhaps there were two viewings of her, as the Royals arrived on January 31, and departed February 1. In any case, I believe my recollection to be somewhat inaccurate, having seen many, many pictures of the Queen riding in a light blue Rolls…Long live the Queen!
However, he went on living.
Pretty much sums it all up doesn’t it?
A few days ago I went down the rabbit hole of genealogy. I love that term, rabbit hole. So crude, yet so mysterious. My sister-in-law asked me about “our Family”. In the words of my departed Mother, I didn’t have a clue. But down I went. ( Just there, as I typed the letter I, for myself, me, the person that I am, the algorithm changed it to ai- artificial intelligence.)
I digress. It seems that is my very essence- Digression. I fell into a major digression, not a minor aggression. Anyway to cut to the chase, as they say, I went online and googled my grandparents, found out new information I had never known, been told, or at the very least, even if I was told, remembered. I am of Huguenot blood on my mother’s side, and Upper Empire Loyalist on my father’s side. So by rights and blood I should be a monarchist. God Save The Queen. But as an ex-punk, my feelings are more complicated than that. Anywho, I respect my elders ( like Bill), and the Queen, and raise a glass for almost any reason. She has survived and endured when mere mortals have fallen into rabbit holes. And for that, she earns my respect.
What a moving story.
My royal tour memory is similar to yours. I was hauled out of bed at midnight to stand with my father and grandparents on the sidewalk in front of the Stratford court house to see a few dark cars whisk by, no doubt making a quick loop from the train station.
I also remember seeing her picture at the front of every classroom in elementary school. At least she was more attractive than Mao and Khrushchev. I remember thinking she was old.
I too, have a murky memory of a royal visit, only in Vancouver in the early 60’s; my mother having taken me downtown to see the Queen. After some research, it was initially worrying that there was no royal tour to Canada at that time…but, BUT, the Queen’s plane gassed up in Vancouver before going on to a tour of Australia, and she spent the night in town, likely at the Hotel Vancouver. I found photographic evidence in the City of Vancouver Archives of the big black car and the back of Prince Phillip’s head, February 1, 1963. That is not how I remember it, though. I remember an open car, not black but light blue, and the Queen looking directly at me, although she didn’t wave. Also an impression of pale yellow somewhere. Perhaps there were two viewings of her, as the Royals arrived on January 31, and departed February 1. In any case, I believe my recollection to be somewhat inaccurate, having seen many, many pictures of the Queen riding in a light blue Rolls…Long live the Queen!