Happy. Glorious. Party time.

June 1977. A little girl with pigtails stands in a photograph with other neighborhood kids. Wearing a dress made of fabric so itchy that it could be used as an instrument of torture, sporting immaculately proportioned pigtails she holds a Union Jack flag. The dazed look on her face probably gave away the fact that she didn't really understand what was going on. Apart from the fact that there was no school that day, she was sitting in the lounge of a local public house (which was a departure from normal family life) and there were plates of sausage rolls, sandwiches, and fairy cakes as far as the eye could see.

It was the Queen's Silver Jubilee and I was that six year old party guest. My son is now the same age, turning six just as the Queen is about to celebrate her Diamond (60th) Jubilee next month. As the United Kingdom erupts in rivers of red, white and blue, it prepares to celebrate this incredible monarchical milestone (as well as the impending London Olympics). And I know that British ex-pats around the globe are looking longingly at their homeland and wishing that they could be there to enjoy the celebrations.

I know that, because I am one of those people. And because I'd love my children, born in the USA to British parents, to experience a total nation in celebration. It's not about monarchy versus democracy. It's not about birthright versus election. It's about celebrating a nation's culture and heritage, being proud of an unbreakable British spirit and acknowledging an amazing achievement by a remarkable woman.

As our children get older, they talk more about their dual nationality. Sometimes they say they feel totally English. When a child has poked fun at their strong English accents they'll retreat and say they feel more American. Our daughter will talk about studying at MIT. And when a care package arrives bearing Cadbury's treats we'll hear repeatedly that they want to move to England because the chocolate is better. Sam calls football 'soccer' because we're in America. And we're really okay with that. We've always told them that they can use British or American words and never influenced their choices to do so. What we want them to be in comfortable in their own skin, and to be able to 'bloom wherever are planted'. Whether that's on the east or west side of the Atlantic, we don't mind.
  
And now, I think I need to go and plan our own celebration of the Queen's jubilee in our own little corner of North America. Perhaps we won't be able to close the road and have a street party circa 1977 but I'm planning on hanging my bunting, breaking out the fine china and let my kids stuff themselves to the point of explosion on homemade British goodies. And not with an itchy item of clothing in sight......