The Royal Wedding - Reporting Live from My Living Room Couch

If you have been reading this blog, it should come as no surprise that I would stay up all night to watch the Royal Wedding in real time. With the wedding at 3am Pacific Time and the kiss on the balcony scheduled for 5:25, it’s going to be a long night, but I had two cups of black tea at 8:30pm, so I think I am good to go.

9:15pm. Arrive home from work.
Oh, good, my William and Kate paper dolls came in the mail today.
Can't wait to watch the Royal Wedding.
This calls for my best PJ’s – the ones that say “I (heart) London"- and of course, I must wear a fascinator.
The dogs have to get ready too. A bowtie for Tarquin; a tiara for Mildred, and Freddy will be in full livery as he will be buttling during the event.
Pimm’s Cup anyone?

9:30-11:30pm. Killing time until the wedding guests start arriving at Westminster Abbey.
Watched “American Idol.” (Casey was kicked off). Watching an “ International House Hunters” episode. Yawn. Next an old Bill Maher I had Tivo’d, and the latest episode of “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Sigh.
Bored, but doing pretty well so far.

11:30pm. My son calls.
He tells me his mother-in-law will also be staying up all night. He comments that I am talking fast and loud. Must be the tea kicking in.

Midnight. – toggling between ABC, BBC and CBUT – can’t decide which one to watch. An awful lot of blathering and fluff going on no matter what channel I choose.

1:20am. The Beckhams arrive.
Love her dress. Not sure about her hat.
My husband is trying to show his support by staying up, but is struggling. He is on his 3rd cup of espresso. I, on the other hand, am full of energy and chattering like a magpie.

1:30am. Oh, there’s Elton.
He’s sitting in the back on a plastic chair (Sharon Osbourne later comments that it was probably the first time Elton’s fanny ever sat on a plastic chair!)

2am. Prime Minister Cameron arrives.
His wife isn’t wearing a hat. Scandalous.
I look over on the other side of the couch. Freddy has collapsed and ceased buttling. Tarquin’s bowtie is askew and Mildred’s tiara is lopsided.

2:10am. Prince William emerges from Clarence House with Harry. Uncontrolled clapping on my part ensues.
They look splendid. Tall and handsome in their uniforms, but of course they would look wonderful. They are Diana’s boys.
Harry looks a bit hung over, though.

2:20am. Harry and William arrive at Westminster Abbey.
They visit with the guests.
Can’t help but think how happy William looks, unlike Charles when he married Diana.

2:38 am. Kate’s mother and brother have arrived.
Some of the Royals are entering the church. Barbara Walters calls them the “lesser royals.” I wonder how they would feel about that. I have never seen so many fascinators in one place.
Glad I have mine on.

2:45am. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie..
Yikes! What is that on Beatrice’s head? Looks like a Lady Gaga moment! I wonder how they feel about their mother not being invited.

2:50am. The Queen and Prince Philip arrive.
The Queen is a vision in yellow amd carrying her everpresent handbag (matching, of course).
I wouldn’t mind being Queen.

3am. Kate emerges from the car.
I guess I shouldn't call her Kate. She prefers Catherine.
Oh, she looks gorgeous.
Her dress is reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s dress when she married Prince Rainier. Kate's, I mean Catherine's, sister Pippa looks beautiful – love her dress – and as she follows Catherine, holding the hands of the little flower girls, it is very touching especially with the dramatic music. (Later, there was much speculation on whether or not it was appropriate for Pippa to also wear white. And yes, it is. In the UK, the bridesmaids usually include little girls and their outfits mimic the bride’s. Just thought you would like to know).

Harry sneaks a peak back as Catherine comes up the aisle and says to William “Wait 'til you see her.” Yes, I can lip-read.
William keeps looking straight ahead. When Catherine arrives at the altar with her father, William says, “You look sensational, Babe. Really beautiful.”
Or that’s what I think he says.

I have been texting with my daughter-in-law who is up feeding her new baby. She said her husband (my son)"popped out to see the dress," which I find funny since he had told me earlier he wouldn't be caught dead watching. He had told me to "enjoy your Super Bowl."

The ceremony is lovely, but I find it anti-climactic once they are pronounced married. I wanted to see them get married, and then walk back down the aisle to trumpets and bell-ringing to greet the awaiting crowd.
The rest of the wedding is a bit of a snooze fest. Can’t believe I have to stay up at least another hour or so to see them on the balcony.
Dogs and husband sound asleep and those two cups of tea are wearing off.

5:30am. William and Catherine emerge from Buckingham Palace onto the balcony.
Not one kiss but two!! History is made!

Yay! I did it!

I was there as it all unfolded. Just as I was when Diana was married, and just as I was for her funeral.

As I write this, I am thinking about the days leading up to the wedding.
There was a lot of grousing about it, asking why we should care about this wedding when there is so much tragedy in the world, such as the tornadoes in the South, the earthquake in Japan, Libya and on and on.

But that is just the point.

It is because of all of that misery that we need a bright spot in the midst of the darkness and what brighter spot than a beautiful wedding starring beautiful people who are in love? With all of the chaos in the world, why not celebrate something positive?

What does this have to do with libraries? Nothing really – except to say, next time you are in the library, take a look at your friendly library staff and know that each and every one of them has interests, passions, and experiences outside the library that lends something unique and positive to your interaction with them inside the library. Great Britain, the Royal Family, Princess Diana – those just happen to be some interests of mine. And watching the wedding made me happy. I came to work today happy. And that’s a good thing, right?