The Day the World Was a Kingdom

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Retrospect – The Day I Became a Knight

By Kevin J. W. Driscoll (c) 2025

Picture this: I was eight years old, and my backyard was no ordinary place. It was a sprawling kingdom, teeming with hidden treasures and fierce dragons (okay, they were just our cats, but to an eight-year-old, they were formidable foes). My trusty steed was a rickety old bicycle, and my armor? A collection of pots and pans I’d pilfered from the kitchen when me Mum wasn’t looking.

One Saturday afternoon, I decided to embark on the greatest quest of all—to rescue my sister from the clutches of the evil dragon (again, just our rather disgruntled cat, Whiskers). Armed with a broomstick for a lance and a saucepan helmet, I gallantly rode my steed across the treacherous terrain of the backyard, navigating between the garden gnomes that doubled as sentries.

I reached the dragon’s lair, where my sister was valiantly “imprisoned” behind the rose bushes. With a battle cry that could rival a lion’s roar (or, at least, in my mind it did), I charged at Whiskers. Of course, the cat looked at me with utter disdain and promptly scurried away to a safer corner of the garden.

Victorious, I freed my sister, who, with the utmost solemnity, dubbed me “Sir Broomstick” with a twig we found on the ground. We celebrated by feasting on cookies and juice, basking in the glory of my newly earned knighthood.

Even now, when I think back to that sunny afternoon, I can’t help but smile. The world was simpler then, full of endless possibilities and grand adventures, all within the confines of our backyard kingdom.

–30–

 

Remembering Gerhard, the Dude Abides

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Remembering Gerhard,  The Dude Abides

We first met Gerhard through our friend Renee.  He was the English professor who years earlier had been her graduate school thesis advisor.

The two had remained very close and Renee invited Gerhard to join our group of friends who took turns hosting each other at dinner,  and who in summer spent weekends together in the country at Renee’s house and at ours.   (See Comfort Food for Renee)

And times spent with Gerhard were always delightful.  He was bright and witty,  always ready for a lively debate on politics,  or books,  or any subject you’d propose.  A Victorian literature scholar,  every year he’d attend the Dickens Universe Conference in California and regale us with stories of the scholarly and not so scholarly goings-on there.

And always ready with an amusing challenge,  Gerhard once asked us each to draft a message we’d like engraved on our tombstone!

One summer weekend at our house I remember how shocked Gerhard was to learn some of us had never seen the 1998 Coen Brothers / Jeff Bridges cult film The Big Lebowski.  He found it streaming online and insisted we watch it together that night.  We did,  and afterwards in typical Gerhard fashion we discussed the film and debated its message.

Then in his late 80s Gerhard developed heart disease and for a time was in cardiac rehab where we visited him.  He returned home but was never completely well,  and during the pandemic we got the unhappy news that our friend had died.

Like most funerals during that fitful time Gerhard’s service was Zoomed,  and thus we even missed the solace of mourning him together.

But you are unforgettable Gerhard,  the Dude abides.

– Dana Susan Lehrman