Mint Julep Queen Calendar Project and Membership Directory begins August 4th
Dear Royal Highnesses, the MJQs,
I am starting a project. I ask each of the MJQ to be photographed near a Savannah Landmark, or historic building or square that means something to them. It has to be in Historic Downtown. Except for Stacy who has asked for Tybee Island.
I have an idea of a few locations already and a few MJQs have already requested certain locations! With a tad bit of simple biographical information, our group membership rooster alongside your picture will be complete. This project will take about a year or so to complete and once it is done, it may be a good calendar, or even a fun book. No matter what, in the end, we will have a nice collection of MJQs portraits for a membership directory.
August 4th we will meet to have drink (Dutch Treat) and appetizers (Treasury) at Cha-bella. The treasury will pay for the appetizers and tip for the waitress. I am paying for the photographer. We may go to Leopold’s and/or to a nearby square.
Please wear whatever you want! I am wearing a green and white polka dotted sun dress, with silver shoes and white gloves. Or at least that is what I think I will wear.
Sometime during the next 12 months, tell me where you would like your portrait to be. Wear something that exudes Queenly-ness and we will plan drinks around your photo shoot. I hope to get 2 MJQs photographed at this event! Maybe Kim and One other?????
Locations –Areas that I suggest (or that have been requested by an MJQ):
Holly: Telfair Square and/or Telfair Academy
Mary : Andrew Low House- Lafayette Square-September or October
Annie - Forsyth Park- March or April
Emma- Wormsloe
Carolyn –
Sue- ?Monterey Square (Mickve Israel)
Becky C- Johnson Square- September or October
Patty G- Johnson September or October
Stacy- Tybee
Kim- the swing at cha bella – August 4
LeeAnn – Cha bella and action shot…running or sitting having a drink August 4
Tricia –City Market Belfords. Month to be determined
Lois -Owens Thomas house
Barbara G –Forsyth (March or April)
Linda – The Museum November
Dottie-Telfair arts and science (jan or feb)
Glenda- Telfair (jan or feb)
Please let me know if you are available to do this. I truly hope so! I look forward to hearing from you and hearing what location you have selected!
Reign on! Queen Erica
August 9th, 2011 at 11:24 am
Hey! I am from Houston Texas, and I found this site and was astounded! First of all pardon the interruption your majesties I am a mere commoner. I respectfully bow. I love tiaras but have a hard time wearing them in public(hence the reason I remain a peasant). It is terrible, I own 26 tiaras and crowns, but I can’t wear them in public. I was hoping to hear what its like when your majesties wear a tiara in public, so that possibly I could learn a bit, and break my phobia. May I also state that I viewed some of the pictures posted, and it is obvious by your regal manner and regalia that even to a commoner you are clearly royalty. If a lowly subject were allowed to make one suggestion, I would suggest your majesties use scepters as well. Only Fitting. I realize there is no need to take time out of your busy royal day to answer me, but I would really appreciate an answer on the tiara question and your experiences wearing a tiara. All Hail.
August 15th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Dear Tiffany,
We believe that all women have a Royalness in them that is innate and irrefutable. Whether it is recognized, nurtured or celebrated is not really the point. We all have a touch of Queen in us. (It is the Archetype that likes to wear jewels in one’s hair.)
Please rest assured that there are a hand full of MJQs who for whatever reason, get a tad bit nervous when we go out to meet our public. Calling attention to one’s Regal-ness can cause stress or fear that we will be pronounced silly, or outlandish, or merely childish. I personally ignore that, but some Queens do in fact need some hand holding to get over that apprehension. (I used to do some minor theatre, local productions only but I can tell you, that British guy who wrote these words that “all the world is a stage and the men and women are merely actors”…well, That Will.I.am Shakespeare nailed it.)
Since all the world really is a stage, look around. What parts do you see folks playing? It there anything wrong with saying. “I want to be Queen tonight. You over by the door. You can play the bitter housewife. You play the college age skank. You over there by the corner. Yes, you! You play the over-worked lonely single woman. and You guys. You just play guys. Can you all do that? Ok? Wait. You guy over there. The one who looks like a gangster. We already have too many gangster types. Go to wardrobe and tell them you need another look. ” So try a night of letting yourself be Queen, Tiffany.
When I am Queen Erica, I have no fear of what anybody might say or think or whisper. (Frankly, we call it “Crown Envy” and men and women can suffer terribly from it. The bigger the crown, the more the envy.) When I am going about my day to day routine as working mom, wife and mother…well, slapping a tiara on my head might interupt the flow of my day so typically I do not do that. On second thought, it might be a good experiment to try…but that is beside the point.
The Bigger point is this: Clearly, Obviously, and Without reservation you sound like Queen Material to me. You own crownSSS and tiaraS for goodness sakes. You know how to write a lovely letter and you have your own closing with the oh so perfect “All Hail!” (very nice touch.) I suggest you find a girlfriend or two who likes to wear tiaras in their hair, select a national holiday or equally important event and go have a drink at a safe, clean, cute bar where people will smile at you and serve you one or two cool drinks. It doesn’t really matter where you go. Another option is dinner out, but it is not nearly as much fun. (I have threatened to plan a bowling event, but the chiffon would get in the way and the lanes are so loud. The noise of the pins being knocked down added to the pressure of the tiara’s heavy jewels might give me a headache. But I think the pictures recording the event would almost be worth it. )
Back to YOU. Bring one extra tiara in your purse for any lady who asks you with a sparkle of joy, “What are y’all doing?” Your Answer? I like tiaras and Crowns and I never get to wear them! I had a hard week and I am feeding my Spirit Queen by going out and playing dress up with some jewels in my hair. So tonight I am QUEEN TIFFANY!” IF and only IF she says, “Goodness that sounds like so much fun. I have always wanted to do that. ” OR some other comment of total connection to the concept (or lack of concept), give her a little tiara as a surprise from one Queen to another. This also works really well with Young girls if you are dressed in full regalia and are asked if you are a princess. The child is told, “No my dear I am a Queen. YOU are the Princess!” and then You Give the darling girl the Glitter.
Thank you for the scepter suggestion. I like it. Maybe I can enlist a page to accompany us on an outing so when we are tired of holding the scepters, we can just pass them to the page who would carefully carry them and then give them back to us for photographs.
Reign On, Queen Tiffany! Your first Royal outing will be an adventure. I promise.
Queen Erica
PS- I just got home from my common job and there is not much that I like more than giving advice, talking about the MJQs, and reminding myself that spreading joy makes my INNER Queen happy.
August 16th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Many thanks your imperial majesty! Not only did you give wonderful advice, but you did so thoroughly and elegantly. You are very kind, kind like a true royal. I will take your advice to heart though. I can assure you I will be a long time follower of this blog, and a loyal supporter and subject of the MJQ’s. I also had one more question of your majesty Queen Erica. I was curious if people you see ever go along, and treat and worship you as royalty, and what are some stories of interesting things your subjects have done? Do they often bow? This isn’t an important question, but rather a more fun one.
long live the queens
August 17th, 2011 at 9:01 am
My dear Queen Tiffany,
Your humble nature is a gift, as is your curious, fun-loving zeal for life. You have come up with an excellent question! No common subjects have ever tagged along at any outing.
We have had applause, accolades and had our pictures made with many commoners we meet, however, tagging along with us? No.
We have had drinks purchased for us and when I gave tiara to a subject, her friend gave me a really cute ring that I still wear to big parties. We have had nods and tips of a hat, so to speak. We have had bows and curtsies. We have also had envious looks, chuckles, sneers, and icy expressionless glances.
Queen Kim commented at the August 4th event that she was just shocked that one man did not even smile at her when she caught his eye. As she said, “Here I am all dressed up in this vintage looking chiffon cocktail dress, banner and Miss America Crown and that guy looked directly at me…in the eye even and he did not even crack a smile. He acted like I was not even here. That is plain crazy!” I agree. It is plain crazy not to see and acknowledge the moment of fun and laughter he could have shared with us by just smiling at a Queen.
It is truly an amazing experience to be Queen and watch commoners’ reactions. It is sort of a Rorschach Test test; it says more about the commoners’ own personalty than it says about the MJQs. In fact, this is such a thought provoking question, I may very well write a tad bit more on a blog post, but for now, I must go to work so my husband and I can afford to maintain our castle.
All my best to you, Queen Tiffany and always REIGN ON!
Queen Erica
Ps: If you are ever in Savannah when we have planned an event or outing, please let me know. You, of course may come and flounce about with us. You must, however be prepared to flounce in a Tiara and flounce-worthy dress.