By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, InDepthNH.org

While it would be in poor taste to muse joyfully on the passing of Queen Elizabeth, I do muse joyfully on the possibility that I am in her will. 

 And, if I am, I muse joyfully she has given me at least one of her tiaras, perhaps a hat or two and, ideally, one of her practical handbags.  Oh, and I’m also hankering for one of the compacts that she kept in her bag; I’m sure they were delightful and a diamond or two would be glorious. But, as I write, I’d really like her crown.

And when I am gifted the queen’s crown, I’ll be wearing that thing EVERYWHERE, to Market Basket, school, walks with my dog, the doctor’s office.  When people ask, I’ll say demurely, “Oh, this old thing – just a gift from the queen.”  And people may feel compelled to curtsy, I’ll do a little curtsy back.  I can’t wait. I hope it does not hit the roof of my car but I do have a sunroof that will allow room. And just think of that crown peeking out from my 2004 Passat wagon!  

I cannot wait to wear that crown. I’ll put on my wool cap in the winter; I’ll wear it ice skating, I’ll wear it on the bus, on the New York subway the next time I go. I’ll wear it at I-95 rest stops.  I’ll wear it on the plane when I go to Hawaii in February.  I’ll wear it on the beach. 

Cast offs from those who have passed on can not only be sentimental, they can be fun. I have a friend who wears her dad’s LL Bean slippers, even though they are several sizes too big.  When my friend, Catherine, gave me her Mom’s Boggle game, I laughed, delighted in the thousands of games we played around her kitchen table.  When I shake the dice now, I’m brought right back to those myriads of words, those afternoons of play with Mrs. Ryan.

And I’ll think fondly of Queen Elizabeth when I wear her crown, keep one of her compacts in one of her purses.  I’ll flash the diamonds in front of my C Block Spanish II class, they will be enthralled by the bling, my crown.  My students will all genuflect and be absolute angels.

Oh, THANK YOU, Queen Elizabeth, for my goodies. May your rest in peace while I celebrate all you have bequeathed me.  Thank you. 

Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.