The end of summer

We have reached the Labor Day weekend here, which traditionally marks the end of summer just as the Memorial Day weekend started it off. I imagine rueful scenes all over the country, as barbecues, snorkels and tennis rackets are stowed away, warmer clothing is dug out from the back of the closet, and thoughts turn vaguely towards the distant prospect of Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping.

In between of course, we had the July 4th holiday - a day for extra merriment at the expense of us Brits living here. I walked around looking spurned, and attempted to reason with revelers at a local fireworks display - why did they think being part of a kindly constitutional monarchy was so inferior to their current system? They said something about the fireworks going off. Or at least I think that's what they said, but it was hard to hear above the noise - it certainly began with "f" and ended in "off".

Less than three weeks after this celebration of independence from the British monarchy, the country was captivated by the build-up and eventual arrival of the new royal prince. That he would be a future King George - a name synonymous with greed and tyranny for any American schoolchild - was a source of further amusement for some.

People seemed to expect the royal birth to have a special significance for me. Like I might go misty-eyed and break into a rendition of "God Save the Queen" at any moment, or confide that I was wearing my Union Jack underpants to mark the occasion. I was certainly happy for William and Kate, who seem like a nice young couple, and pleased by the bright, more accessible future that appears to lie ahead for the royal family. 

But my interest could not match that of the American public in the whole affair. I can't really explain the reason for this fascination with the British royalty. In a country where people scrap their way to the top - from Washington to Hollywood, Silicon Valley to Wall Street - maybe opinion warms to the idea of a family whose status is bestowed by history rather than its own undignified struggle.

In any event, September is almost upon us, on we go into the "fall".