The Royal Wedding

At first, I scoffed at all this hoopla over the big Royal Wedding on Friday. Seriously, what's the deal?

But in only a week, I've done a 180. I've been trying to catch the morning talk shows, which are all based in London right now, commenting on Kate's potential dresses, honeymoon plans, and possible etiquette gaffes. Today, when Eleanor was napping, I even went to Hulu to watch a Lifetime (Lifetime!) movie called Royal Wedding of a Lifetime: The Future King and Queen. I've been totally sucked up into it, and I'm looking forward to watching all of the coverage on Friday.

I think this has happened for three reasons:

1. Eleanor is big into the princess phase. I have mixed feelings about this, but at times it does bring back fond memories of when I loved to pretend to be a princess, and read fairy tales, and imagine life in a castle. (Not a real castle, of course—one with fairies and magic and all that.) Just today I told her about the royal wedding on Friday, and she said that she's very excited for them.
   
2. It reminds me of the wonderful times I've spent in the UK, both when I volunteered there and since. (Like going to Elaine's wedding in Glasgow, as pictured above. We're definitely not royalty, but it was the one chance I've had to wear a hat like that!) Even just hearing the one British newscaster this morning talking about "taking the mick" makes me smile. I miss the slang, the food, the sites, the history .... and watching the coverage gives me a taste of all that.
3. I want to root for them! Just like I was disappointed to hear that Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins split up, I want to believe that it is possible to find true love and stay faithful and in love, despite all of the distractions of fame and fortune. Maybe it seems strange that I feel badly for the rich and famous, but I do think that it would be harder to maintain a good, normal, healthy relationship. I like that Kate currently is not royalty, and that they met and started dating at Uni, just like millions of other couples. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart, and I want to believe that even royalty is looking for the same things as the average person: love, companionship, and understanding.
   

I do plan on watching as much of the festivities as I can on Friday. (Which probably won't be much, since Eleanor doesn't watch much TV and I'll be chasing after her AND enjoying a playdate at my sister's house.) I hope it's a glorious, sunny day, and they do live happily ever after!