By now, you害羞草研究所檝e heard the news. Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died on Thursday at the age of 96.
Her reign lasted more than 70 years, beginning in February of 1952, meaning she was the only monarch most Britons (and Canadians) had ever known.
Her loss is felt by many, and in many different ways.
CP called her a 害羞草研究所渟ymbol of stability in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and embarrassing dysfunction in her own family.害羞草研究所�
British Prime Minister Liz Truss, appointed by the queen just 48 hours earlier, pronounced the country 害羞草研究所渄evastated害羞草研究所� and called Elizabeth 害羞草研究所渢he rock on which modern Britain was built.害羞草研究所�
The tributes rolled in, with the prevailing sentiment being, regardless of how folks felt about the monarchy, the queen did indeed personify dignity and grace.
For me, without the queen, the institution itself doesn害羞草研究所檛 hold much value anymore, for a variety of reasons.
But I害羞草研究所檒l miss the phone calls.
My family on my mum害羞草研究所檚 side is rather British.
I grew up on 害羞草研究所楢ll in the Buses害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所楤enny Hill害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所楳onty Python害羞草研究所�.
My Nana always had an endless supply of licorice allsorts, Lyle害羞草研究所檚 Golden Syrup and made the best Yorkshire pudding.
When I phoned her, I didn害羞草研究所檛 say 害羞草研究所渉ello害羞草研究所漮r 害羞草研究所渉i害羞草研究所� like a normal human, I often said 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶛allo, 害羞草研究所檕w害羞草研究所檚 your budgie?害羞草研究所� (long story).
Nana is the source of two of my three Queen Elizabeth stories.
The queen and I share a birthday, so every year on our special day, she used to call me and offer her best wishes.
As a very young man, this delighted me to no end.
害羞草研究所淭he queen is calling me!害羞草研究所�
The calls delighted me more even after I figured out it was my cheeky Nana on the other end of the call, using her fine impersonation skills to convince me I was sharing a moment with a monarch.
Those calls continued well into my adulthood, until my Nana害羞草研究所檚 passing. But I nonethless perpetuated the tradition after becoming a dad, reminding everyone in earshot that the queen now had my cellphone number and never forgot to call.
The calls may now be no more, but the joy will remain.
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Story No. 2 involving Nana and the queen (I always imagined her being a sweet grandmother like my own) I don害羞草研究所檛 remember myself, but it took on a life of its own over the years.
When I was a toddler, Queen Elizabeth visited Victoria. Of course, my Mum and Nana had to go see her in public, with tiny me in tow. There was some sort of cannons firing or a 21-gun salute for the queen, but this made wee me cry. Nana, not missing a beat, pretended to be shot, made some funny faces and noises and, in front of hundreds of folks and visiting royalty, rolled down the hill to make me laugh. I did. Fortunately, she didn害羞草研究所檛 get carted away.
Story No. 3: I was taking photos at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. I was near the entrance to the stadium track when a security fellow told me to stop and remain where I was. The queen, in the back of a convertible, was on her way in. The procession stopped directly in front of me. The queen (the queen!) was basically an arm害羞草研究所檚 length away. I froze. She said 害羞草研究所渉ello害羞草研究所�. I bowed my head and said 害羞草研究所渉ello, Your Majesty.害羞草研究所�
Nana listened proudly as I recounted the tale, though she didn害羞草研究所檛 buy my assertation that I was invited for high tea with my new best friend after the ceremony.
RIP to the queen. I cherish the stories.
PQB News/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf welcomes your questions, comments and story ideas. He can be reached at 250-905-0029, via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or on Twitter .
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