Copyright © 2022
By Ralph F. Couey
Image and written content
The English monarchy has a very long history, some 1,400 years if you go back to the Kings of Wessex. In that time there has been 65 monarchs who have sat on the throne. This past week, Elizabeth passed from this life after 95 years, 70 of them as Queen. Nobody over that nearly a millennia and a half ruled for anywhere near that long.
She assumed the throne at 25, after the death of her father. Winston Churchill doubted her abilities, thought she was far too young for such daunting responsibilities. For such an eminent statesman, it was a rare misjudgment. Not only did she prove equal to the challenge, she embraced her responsibility to serve the people, her subjects, and the country. Her strength, intelligence and equanimity in the face of all that the country and her family have endured, earned the respect of the entire world. On the day of her passing, I could here the soft footsteps which marked the passage of history.
Charles is now King, but he has a past that has caused a lot of grief. The death of Diana was a personal loss for millions, and the stories that emerged of his treatment of her painted a dark picture, indeed. An air of uncertainty hangs over the Royal Family. Elizabeth was the glue that held them together through scandal after scandal.
And now, she is gone.
It remains to be seen if her successors can recapture the grace, strength, and respect that was her enduring legacy.
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We have watched as the mainland has been baked and broiled this summer. Triple-digit temperatures have been visited on nearly the entire 50 states, creating an unprecedented drain on electricity. In addition, most of the western states are dealing with extensive and serious drought conditions. Winter, the time when snowfall is supposed to replenish water sources, has not produced the snowfall required. There is real concern that these states could run completely dry by the end of this decade. The future of this region, and the tens of millions who live there, now hangs in the balance. There is no man-made solution in the offing. As the history of the Dust Bowl years recalls, sometimes for unknown reasons, nature just turns off the spigot. All we can do is wait for the rains to return.
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On a happier note, for nearly three scintillating weeks, we had grandchildren in the house, as our son's family flew in from Virginia for a visit. Our niece got married, which sparked the reason for the visit. It was a great reunion, full of fun, laughter, and love. I managed to take some time off and went with them as they made almost daily visits to the beaches here in O'ahu. It was a time for us as grandparents to embrace the unrelenting passage of time reflected in their growth. I know most grandparents think their grandchildren are the loveliest, smartest, and most talented in the world. With all respect to our peers, ours actually are.
