Today Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96. For some unexplainable reason I found this upsetting and felt a sense of loss. She always impressed me as a steady, solid, non emotional person no matter the circumstances. Over her life time she was a witness to World War II, the decline of the British Empire, family scandals' and dysfunctions. After getting out of the Army In 1968 I accompanied my grandmother to Canada to visit some family members. We spent a night or two in a hotel in Edmonton, Alberta. While riding in a hotel elevator I over heard two men talking about how Canada was attached to the Queen and comparing how the United States had no such attachment or anchor. Back then the Dominion of Canada was a commonwealth nation to Great Britain when the Union Jack was part of its flag. The Queen did not rule Canada as they had their own prime minister and parliament. I think it was the tradition of being connected to the Queen and sense of belonging to a family, a royal family at that those men in the elevator were talking about. Is this tradition still important in a changing world of political division, environmental disasters and economic instability? Was it a loss of tradition I felt today?
A collection of stories from the life of Michael Burke. He worked for the Forest Service in Alaska, California, and Oregon. He lives in Oakland, OR. His wonderful wife, Celia, passed in May of 2021
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FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY
It is four years today when Celia left this word, something I think about every day. It is not all sorrow as I think back on her humor, w...
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It is four years today when Celia left this word, something I think about every day. It is not all sorrow as I think back on her humor, w...
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In my early days with the Forest Service we were called upon to fight fires with little choice in the matter, especially on our days off or ...
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One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was when I lived in Eugene from 1991 to 2000. My two children were with me on Thanksgiving of 1992...
During the Queen's Jubilee a couple of months ago, I observed a unity the British people exhibited, so unlike all the violence and shootings we have in the United States, which demonstrate anything but united we stand. She was queen my entire life, and now that sense of foundation has been lost.
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