It’s been a freaky couple of weeks around here, what with earthquakes and riots and Mayor Larry and registered letters and lovebirds laying eggs. So freaky, in fact, that I completely forgot to talk about the Queen’s visit.
I had a meeting on Thursday morning at Billings Bridge, and it was my intention to go see the Queen unveil the Oscar Peterson statue afterward. I don’t know why. The Queen’s just kind of trippy in an anachronistic sort of way. I saw her once before – just caught a glimpse of her in her motorcade – and it was one of those essentially meaningless moments which I never forgot. So I thought I’d treat myself to another such moment.
On my way to meet the Queen I came upon an Indian store, and outside the window, on the sidewalk, was a basket full of stuff. And on the basket was a sign that said “$15 for entire contents of basket including basket.”
So I rifled through it, and it had all kinds of cool stuff in it. Three journals! Journals! And one of them is a really good one that I’ve contemplated buying many times before but never did because I couldn’t afford to spend $25 on a journal. The other two journals are pretty nice too. And there’s a traveling Buddhist altar, and eight perfumes, and incense burners and incense holders and a bracelet and a few other things.
So I picked up the basket, took it into the store and paid $15 for it. Then I continued on my way. But I soon realized that the basket was a bit too heavy and awkward for lugging around on a Queen-meeting excursion.
So I caught a bus and went home instead.
Sorry, Queen. Maybe next time.
I didn’t want to drive into Halifax when she was here…so yesterday I celebrated her visit by buying a funky cookie tin that has a picture of the royal family on it …as in King George VI, the King’s Consort Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, (I’d say around age 8) and Princess Margaret. I’m not a monarchist, but it was the quirky history of it I loved.
Well you’ll probably get a lot more out of the basket than with seeing the Queen. Even if you had met her and exchanged pleasantries, it would only give you bragging rights. A good basket can last years and be ever so useful.
What constitutes an anachronism is as relative as any other social aspect of society.
Elizabeth II is a remnant from the longest and most-widely used tradition of governance in human history. I would love to see her in person one day.
Faithful republican and meritocratic American though I am, royalty has always held my fascination.