"Knighted"

 "Sir Sidney of Hollis Green"

A while back I was remembering a childhood event. I told the story on the air of how my Aunt Sybil "Knighted" me, my brother, and cousins.

Long, long ago when cars had fins, and Woodstock was just an upstate town I was a kid. In this instance I was a kid playing in my aunt Sybil's back yard.
I was raising hell with my brother John, and my cousins Jimmy, and Henry.
We were run'n around go'n nuts in my aunt Sybil's back yard in Hollis Queens. Btw, we called auntie, "Mum",...can't remember why. Like none of us remembers why we call my little sister "Cookie." All lost in the mists of kidhood.


Well there we were jump'n up'n down when out comes "Mum" into the yard. She's set up the big lawn chair, and put a big pillow in front of it. She'd also brought out Grandma's big hand made winter quilt.

You folks ever read "Prince Valiant?" ...that's him up above. My mom knew about him. In fact it was her favorite comic strip. She even used to read it to me when I was real little. So it's no surprise that me, and all the cousins  had "Prince Valiant" sets.

 Shield, sword, flower pot helmet, the works. This stuff be worth a fortune on eBay if you could find it!

Anyhow 'sides everything else Mum brings out a "Prince Valiant" sword'n shield. I can still see them, beautifully done,..for toys. What can I say, 'fore we knew it our Aunt Sybil went, and "knighted" the whole bunch of us!

We got in line I remember, and each in our turn donning Grandma's quilt knelt before Mum, and was knighted. I can't remember the words, but I do remember that it all felt serious, not play, but something 'real' that Aunt Sybil was doing for us,..giving to us.

Was that the moment we all became men? That so long ago summer day when we knelt before she who would later be the "Matriarch" of all our families.

The years passed my brother, and cousins grew up to be paratroopers, and fought in the Indochina wars. They were the "Knights", that's what they called themselves. My cousin Henry even drew an "Excalibur" on the side of his helmet.

I have often wondered if the magic that Aunt Sybil gave us that day helped them to survive over there. I think it did. I think Mum knew what she was doing.

There is only one Knight left now,...me. Time, and the world took the others.


Still that summer day lives in me. That gift from our dear Auntie has seen me into a new century, and a grateful middle-age.

God Bless You Mum.

Whereas I said I don't remember the words that were said over us I always meant to compose something to fill in the gap.

 Here it is.

 I pinched most of it from books, or movies though a few words 'are' mine. I hope it may come in handy for you if you ever have to Knight a worthy person. Be they very old or very, very young no matterl.




"The Oath of a Knight"




Be without fear in the face of your enemies.

Be brave, honest,  generous, and kind.

Oppose evil in all of it's forms.

Have the wisdom to do not what is easy, but what is right.

Respect Women. Safeguard the helpless, respect all faiths. But beware of "Pride" the source of all error.

Now in the name of G-d the founder of Dreams.

She who filled the "Well of Forever" with souls, and put smiles on the lips of the unborn.

In the name of She who painted the void with fire.

In that Name!, and in the names of Saint Michael, and Saint George the slayer of Dragons!

You are Consecrated,...now rise, a Knight, and assume your responsibilities.