Dear Queen Elizabeth,
I have written to you before, and you haven't answered. But I understand. I know you are busy looking after your kingdom.
In these days of quick messaging, I cling to the fine old custom of writing letters. I encourage children to write to family and friends.
Maybe it is a bit presumptuous of me to be writing to the Queen of England. Here in Grand Forks we all talk to Mayor Brown. And he makes chili for special events.
Today I am writing to wish you a happy 67th anniversary. I wanted you to know that I, too, was married in 1949. But my husband, Jack, went on ahead to the promised land in 1997. That was the year we had the big flood here in the Red River Valley.
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The weathermen were predicting snow for today. The first snow of the season brings out the best or the worst in all of us. If you are an optimist, you love the snowflakes floating down. If you are a pessimist you hold your hands over your head and scowl.
This is the week of Thanksgiving, Elizabeth. You probably know that the Pilgrims and the Indians and the settlers from your country got together and invented the custom.
We are thankful this week for turkeys and dressing. For cranberries and green bean casserole. We are thankful the election is over.
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Excitement is running high around here this week, Your Majesty. You probably know that football is a big deal here in the States. And our University of North Dakota team is going into postseason play. We used to call the teams the Sioux, but after a lot of folderol we changed the name of the teams to the Hawks. Well, anyway, the tickets are on sale now for Dec. 3. Wish you could be here. You and Prince Philip could fly to Winnipeg and take a bus down to the Forks.
We have a Canad Inns hotel right near the Alerus football stadium. And we could get you some warm clothes and blankets from the Bemidji Woolen Mill in Minnesota. There's a very friendly businessman named Bill Batchelder who runs the place. And even in the winter he likes to show people the statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox near the lake.
In years gone by, I have several times visited England. I still have a raincoat I bought at Harrods.
And I send my best, respectful regards from Grand Forks where the Red and Red Lake rivers meet.
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Marilyn
