Today was/is my last work day on which I don’t have to work. At least for a while, that is. I decided, therefore, to go see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. I figured it would be a bit less crowded on a Friday than on a weekend, and I have no idea if that’s the case, because it was pretty crowded today, and I have only been on Friday (except once when I was 9 but I don’t remember what day that was or if it was more or less crowded than today). It is most certainly possible that only the freakishly TALL people come on Fridays, in which case maybe a weekend WOULD be better. So it was hard to see past the tall people, but I’m glad I did it. It was a lovely morning - sunny and hot but not oppressively so, and everyone was very excited to be there, so that’s always fun. Aside from everyone being SOOO tall (I mean I’m tall, and people were letting me past them like, “oh I can see over you no worries”), there were a few striking aspects of my time there.

First of all, it takes forEVER. I stayed for about an hour - bear in mind, the vast majority of it is just guys walking from their little guard houses to the corner of the wall and back again three times then step (well, from what I could see). I left after I decided that it probably wouldn’t suddenly turn vastly more exciting after an hour. To be fair, I think it ended shortly thereafter.

Also surprising was that it’s all a little silly. It’s a great tradition, and I’m all for tradition - I went to William and Mary, for goodness sake, and as some of you know, we love our candle lighting ceremonies there. I understand and completely respect ceremony and tradition. That said, these guys with the big hats - the guards - they carry big guns. So I’m thinking they’re probably pretty good guards - like I wouldn’t want to try to sneak by one of them. BUT there are also your regular bobby-type guards with walkie-talkies and the like - only a few inside the palace gates, but still - I found that interesting in that it called attention to the fact that the silly hats are probably not good for chasing down culprits and ne’erdowellers. Plus I don’t think the puffy-hatted guards have technologically advanced communications systems and whatnot.

I also learned today that there is a PARADE with the changing of the guards. Maybe I’m silly for not knowing this, but nonetheless, parade! Guys with instruments and other guys with guns and those golden marching sticks - playing their little hearts out every day at 11:30 - well only on weekends in the winter (another example of its huge significance). I was thinking, “Ooh I picked a good day - there’s a parade!” oh no, there’s just a parade. Who knew?

The last and weirdest item of note is that I thought one of the whole points of the guards was that they stand still. Maybe I just happened to look at the wrong dudes, but this one chubby sax player guard, for example, was VERY fidgety! I can’t blame him - it was WAY too hot to be parading around in those outfits today - BUT isn’t that the point? Caton said maybe it’s hard to find musicians who are also good still-standers. Well on behalf of musicians everywhere, I’m ashamed. Shape up, Mr. Sax-Player.

I’ll add some pictures of it as soon as I get a chance to set them up.