The passing of Queen Elizabeth II saddened me more than I expected. Perhaps because she was a year younger than my mom. And although we know that death is inevitable and a long life is something to be remembered with joy, when the end comes, we are never prepared.
From his speech, it was obvious that her eldest son, now King Charles III and 74, wasn’t ready for his mom’s passing, as I expect I won’t be, either.
His words brought tears to my eyes: “To my darling mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late papa, I want simply to say this: Thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Both my mom and Elizabeth were part of the greatest generation, who lived through the Depression and World War II. They were pregnant during the same time. I was born in 1948, as was King Charles. My sister was born in 1950, the same year as Princess Anne.
But although my mom and the queen experienced many of the same womanly and worldly events, they saw them through completely different eyes.
When Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, my mom was 26, one year older than the recently married princess, who was not expecting to wear the crown.
While Elizabeth was preparing for her coronation, learning the procedure for the royal event, my mom was reading The Betty Crocker Cookbook, preparing meals for two small children and a spouse. The queen had a love for riding horses. My mom loved to ride around in a convertible with the top down.
Throughout the decades, the queen led opening sessions in Parliament. My mom was the leader of conversations at the dinner table. The queen understood the power of silence. To my mom, silence is an enemy. The queen didn’t take her husband’s name. For years my mom didn’t even have her own name. She was known to the world as Mrs. Calvin Singman. The queen shocked the world by dancing with the president of Ghana at a formal ball. My mom shocked her teenage daughters by doing the twist at a family birthday party. The queen owned a variety of animals, most living in the London Zoo. With three great-grandchildren, a granddaughter, two dogs and various caregivers coming in and out of our house, my mom often feels as if she is living in a zoo. The queen used her ever-present purse to send signals to her staff. My mom clings to her purse for dear life, wherever she goes. Sometimes she is talking to someone, and it is usually herself. The queen drank a glass of Bollinger champagne every night. My mom has a glass of Maker’s Mark bourbon every night.