Lisha Cassibo has been writing for the Uxbridge Cosmos for two years, both as a freelancer and as a columnist. She has also written for several parenting magazines both here in Canada and for English publications in Switzerland. She graduated from Carleton University with an honours degree in Journalism and English Literature. She lives with her family in Sunderland.
HRH...Moi?
I'm convinced that I am a princess. A real, true princess. I've always been convinced of this, ever since I was a child. Of course, you say, every little girl is sure she has a royal background at some point in her little life, but that notion fades over time. I've done my checking, however, and I know I have roots that go way back to at least 15th century Belgium. Baron von Nieuwenhove somehow found his way to a tiny corner of this tiny country and claimed it as his own, building a small empire and even... wait for it... a castle. I've seen it! Well, the remains of it, at least. The tiny museum - yes, museum! - on the site of this tiny baronage bears witness to the fact that Baron von N. traveled extensively to the exotic lands of China and India. Surely someone who had traveled so much in the 1400s and managed to build a small town around his lands that still bear his name had some money and royal backing behind him! Surely a castle and a museum and a town name must mean I can add some sort of “ess-ness” to my last name - baroness, marchioness, viscountess... princess?
So now, how to style myself a princess? Let's look at our role models, shall we? Modern day princesses have a tendency to end up divorced, dead, mercilessly pursued by the media and never having a moment to themselves. I don't want any part of that. To be a princess in my world means to make life easier, not more difficult and insufferable. The only other princesses I can think to try and relate to are celluloid, or rather digital, versions spun from childrens' fairy tales. Which one would I like to be?
I shall have to come to this through process of elimination. For I can tell you right off the hop who I wouldn't want to be - Snow White. Insipid is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Snow White. She's too sweet, too warble-y, too gosh darn cute. And let's face it. She looked after seven, SEVEN, little men, and whistled while she worked. I begrudgingly look after one man, and three small people, and don't do a whole lot of happy whistling while I'm at it. Snow White is not for me.
Next I think of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I don't think I can be her either. She's a little insolent, she doesn't listen to either her father or Beast, and is a little like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, always searching for her heart's desire other than where it really is. I've no great life search to embark upon, other than life itself. No, Belle is to unsettled for me.
The Little Mermaid? Ariel is boy crazy and got married at 16. I can't be her, I'd be a crappy role model for my girls. Sleeping Beauty - if anyone can give me an in-depth personality analysis of this princess, I'd be interested in reading it. She sleeps most of the time, and sings the rest. Vapid comes to mind. Not my kind of gal.
Pocahontas and Mulan fall into the same category of not-really-princesses-but-really-great-female-role-models, and I'm going for the full princess title, so I'm not even going to consider them.
Let's see, who's left? Ah, yes. Only the princess that I have dreamed my whole life of being. Only the princess whose very name invokes images of royal dreams that are always perfect. The one, the only, Cinderella.
I get Cinderella. I can relate to her. I think I'm living her life. She has three beastly semi-relations that she has to wait on hand and foot. I have three children under the age 10. She loves to daydream, long for something other than what she has. That's what I'm doing right here, isn't it? Best of all, I love her personality the best. She's a bit of a feisty one, she is! Think of when she's waking in the morning and is happily going about her business, only to be interrupted by the clanging of the clock. She gets her dander up, calling it a Killjoy (one of my favourite terms) and having a bit of a go at her stepsisters behind their backs. She's never disrespectful, though, and knows how to keep it together in order to keep herself out of trouble.
Best part of her story is, though - she ends up getting what she wants! So I've still got something to look forward to! She got to be a princess, maybe, just maybe, my tiara is on it's way! Even better - a pair of those shoes. The girl must've had a shoe fetish, carrying one around in her pocket like that. I own more shoes than is decent - I tell you, she's my match!
I am sure that a bit more research will reveal my royal heritage. I'll have prepared myself dutifully for the role by watching Disney films over and over and over (no hardship in a household with three girls). The best part is, I've not got to look for Prince Charming. I've found him already. Now about that happily ever after business...
