I have written before about growing up, reading books about kings and queens….actually reading about history.
THAT IS NOT A BAD THING. My family also got a daily newspaper, and as is the way with headlines, when Queen Elizabeth stepped off the Brittanica Ship, which had dropped anchor near Buckingham Fountain….I developed a major interest in the Royal Family, and always regretted that no one took me downtown to see the queen in person. But there were photos and books, and thus began my interest in the Windsors. And my mother, who was also an anglophile, purchased an amazing hardcover book with beautiful photos of the queen, one of the best Christmas presents I ever received.
Thus began my journey to read about Elizabeth the Second, then Elizabeth the First and all things royal. That was a good thing. I became interested in English history, the struggle of Catholics and the English Church…King Henry the Eighth etc. While others were reading Nancy Drew, this was my go to reading adventure…also Little Women and all books written by Louisa May Alcott. My intense childish love of royalty and the past enhanced my love of music, particularly Symphony No. Five in E Minor, Op.64 by Tchaikovsky.
We had a record of this piece and in early days, and a record player that actually sat on the floor in our living room. I know which record to select and where to set the needle, so that I could find the end of the piece and play the ending. WHY? Because it has a marching feel, a royal feel, and when you are a child you can put on a cape and walk up and down your living room, the music so amazing and royal as you live out a small part of your dream.
This week King Charles became better known to America and Americans. Many are saying that the speech he gave has eclipsed many of those of trump. That is a good thing, I believe. We need to look out on the global community and see them as friends, not enemies. We need to fine those things that unit us. We need to make THE WORLD a better place and not honor a man who want to be KING, when the United States of America decided many years ago…NO. NO KINGS for the US.
THANKS FOR READING.