Yes I Watched It Too

Well, technically I haven't yet...the DVR'd account of the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton is still sitting on the machine. I chose to record the BBC America version, rather than the major American networks. I figured I'd catch enough of their feed through the internet. And well, it is a British wedding, with British royals, and British people...so I figured a British perspective might be more interesting.

And yes, I teared up when I saw the snippet of them at the altar, reciting their vows. The new Duchess of Cambridge, ever so beautiful in her last few moments as just Kate; and the dashing Prince, heir to the throne, respelendent in his military finery. So young, so in love, so patient...and so seemingly well adjusted.

I don't call it a fairy tale wedding - I think it's far from it. And I'm tired of the reports of how Common Kate was just that, and now grew up to marry a Prince and become the Queen of England some day. But she's not reeeeeally common. She may not be royal by blood, but it ain't just any broad that attends St. Andrews. Now, if Wills fell for a dove that he met in some bar in one of his college jaunts that was uneducated but spunky...that might fall into the fairy tale category.

But I think it's just a lovely story for a troubling time. A symbol of hope that love can happen, and outlast the ridiculous media assault that added to the demise of Wills' parents marriage and inevitably, and tragically, his mother's death. A success admist a cacophany of failures in the world; a moment in time when we all weren't concerned with oil, or caves, or weaponry, or despots.

If nothing else, the entire wedding from plan to execution was pulled off in a miraculous amount of time - enough to make you believe that no florist or caterer should ever tell you you have to wait two years to get them. But then again, I guess it's easier to clear calendars when you have the entire monarchy behind you.

So many of us witnessed the marriage of Charles and Diana, and then the consequent births of William and Harry...almost they have become like distant family. To see him grow up to be a respectful and respectable man, one who seems to love life and, like his mother, do what he can with what he has to improve the lives of others, and then make the very prepared and mature step to marriage was moving, to say the least.

I sincerly hope the best for them. And for all of us.