As I write this piece, we are mourning the death of our cherished Queen Elizabeth II, although it’s a tranquil sorrow, as we know she led a full, worthy and rewarding life. A long and healthy life. What more could one want?
Poring over the weekend papers I read an account of her last weekend and it seemed to me to be, what I would describe as, her Cherry Tree Moment.
So, what exactly is a Cherry Tree Moment? It’s my own term, so I’ll explain how it came about.
Years ago, my brother bought a house with a beautiful cherry tree in the middle of the back lawn. He didn’t know how old the tree was, but it seemed healthy and a lovely shape. One summer, it excelled itself with the abundance and beauty of the blossom. It was a breath-taking sight to behold.
But that autumn on a still, cool morning, my brother and his family looked out of the window to see the tree had split in two and died. There hadn’t been a storm. It was just time.
It was if the tree had known it was approaching its end and the bountiful blossom of the previous summer was its swan song.
And it got me thinking…
How many times do we hear of people who are battling a disease, being described as blooming, only to discover a short while afterwards that they have died? Even people who have been confused for many years, suddenly become alert and lucid, if only for a short while.
I believe Her Majesty was mainly affected by mobility problems and was always very mentally acute, but it was fascinating to read about how ‘on form’ she was during her final weekend, only a few days before her death.
Apparently, the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, who was due to perform a sermon at the local church, had stayed with the Queen at Balmoral for the weekend. He had dinner and Sunday lunch with the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, and was extremely impressed by the Queen’s sharp memory, and how full of fun she was. She was naming her horses from 40 years ago and could recall countless names from the distant past. Apart from that, she was laughing and enjoying the company of her guests and family.
Perhaps this was not her blooming – her swan song. Perhaps there wasn’t a marked difference in how she had been previously. But it was interesting to learn how she was blossoming just a few days before her death. What a blessing to have such a short decline before passing on. A gentle death for a truly remarkable woman.
Have you ever witnessed a Cherry Tree Moment with loved ones?
