I’m not one to place a lot of emphasis on biology or genetics when it comes to how I feel about family. I grew up with sisters and brothers who came to our family by adoption. They were no less sisters and brothers than the ones who were born to our family. There is just as much connection with those with whom I share no genetic lineage as with those who had the same biological father and mother as I. I feel the way about our children. One was born to our family. One came into our family by adoption. Both are fully our children. Their children are equally our grandchildren.

When the adoption of our daughter was finalized, the judge asked me about our wills and inheritance. We don’t have much and there won’t be much in terms of money when our lives come to their end, but what we have will be distributed equally to our children. We started college savings for each of our grandchildren with the same initial investment.

Not everyone sees the world the way I do. When my father’s mother came to the end of her life, there were small financial inheritances for her grandchildren. However, only those of us who were related to her by biology and genetics were named in her will. This didn’t only affect my brothers and sisters. My father’s sister also had adopted children. I don’t know what happened in my cousin’s family, but in ours, we shared the amounts we received with our siblings. At the time, I was baffled by my grandmother’s choice. I still do not understand it.

I don’t understand much about how some people think of inheritance.

Around 9:30 yesterday morning, there was an announcement on CBC radio that Queen Elizabeth, the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch had died at the age of 96. Then they played “God Save the Queen,” a song whose theology I don’t understand. I believe that God doesn’t need our advice, whether through a song or a prayer, to accomplish salvation. That aside, they soon announced that the King and Queen Consort would remain at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and would return to London the next day. Just like that - instantly and automatically - England and Canada and the other countries of the United Kingdom have a new head of state. There was no election and although there will be plenty of ceremony in the days to come, there was no need for a swearing in or official transfer of power. As soon as the Queen died, there was a new King.

I’m not a monarchist. I don’t understand how the head of a government can be determined by family lineage. True leadership, I believe, is a reflection of the will of the people. Despite the shenanigans of the former president and his league of election deniers, in the end, when January 20, 2021 rolled around, a new President was sworn in and moved into the White House. It was the 12th peaceful transfer of power in our country of my lifetime. Only two of those were accomplished without an election, one when a president was assassinated, the other when a president resigned. We did have one son of a former president elected, but that is rare in American history and certainly not assured.

King Charles III wasn’t the only one who got a new title out of the death of the Queen. There is a whole host of dukes and duchesses and princes and princesses and other members of the royal family who receive updated titles. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is now Queen Camilla, though her official title is Queen Consort. She isn’t Queen in the sense that Elizabeth was Queen. In the strange ways of British titles, Queen Elizabeth’s husband wasn’t King Philip but rather His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

One of the mourners in London commented in a BBC report, “We will never have another queen in our lifetime.” That is likely true given the number of boys in the royal family. Reigning queens become queen only when there is no male heir in her generation. Of the 41 monarchs since 1066 only six have been women. Even so that is a better track record than some other countries. We have never had a woman as President of the United States and we’ve had more Presidents than the United Kingdom has had reigning monarchs.

It is all very confusing to me. The Canadian and British press use HM (his or her majesty) or HRH (his or her royal highness) to refer to Kings and Queens. American news outlets rarely bother with that part of the title. I’m sure that all of the sashes and medals, scepters and crowns mean something to those familiar with the ceremonies surrounding the monarchy, but they mean little to me. In fact, I think they look rather silly. That, however, is only my opinion and means nothing to those who subscribe to Keep Calm and Carry On. Yes, anyone can subscribe to the newsletter that claims to answer all questions about the royal family. For followers of the royal family, I guess it is interesting reading.

The death of any human being leaves behind grief. There are real people who have lost a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Queen Elizabeth was beloved by many outside of her family as well. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada said, “She was one of my favorite people in the world and I will miss her so.” I’m sure his sentiment is genuine. The mourning is real. I don’t want to diminish the sense of loss that people are experiencing. But I don’t understand thousands of people standing in the rain outside of Buckingham Palace to pay their respects when the royal family is still at Balmoral. Had I been in London, I might have found the closing of pubs and restaurants to be a bit of a problem for a hungry tourist.

I wish the best for King Charles III. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who will make fun of his title and the trappings of the monarchy. I guess he’ll have to just keep calm and carry on.