Here in the castle of King Henry VI, is Eleanor of Aquitaine (the king’s wife). She is here to give all the details on her previous marriages. Lady Lili (LL): Hello, Eleanor! It’s nice to finally meet you. I hope you don’t mind but I’d like to get things going? Eleanor (E): Hello! Right back at you, and sure I don’t mind at all. LL: So, how has it been since you and Louis separated? E: I’ve been fine! As you know I am engaged to King Henry II? LL: Yes, I have. I will be the one writing an article on it, actually. So, moving on are you two planning on having any future heirs? E: Of course! Besides we have to, there needs to be an heir for the throne. It’s one of our priorities. LL: When will you be married? To be more specific, what season? E: Maybe, Spring or Summer. We haven’t really decided we are still planning. Henry’s mother has been a blessing with that. She has been helping with everything, she is so sweet! LL: Sweet...well look at that, the Queen has come up with a new phrase! Sweet! Ha I like it! So, come up with any baby names yet? E: Actually, yes we have. We both thought it would be best to name one of the baby’s after us. Like for a girl, Eleanor. But for a boy, Henry! LL: How cute! Is there anything new coming up besides the royal wedding? E: No not that I know of... LL: Ok well thanks for coming! E: Your very welcome! Hope too see you soon!
Eleanor Of Aquitaine is the duchess of Aquitaine who is the queen of all women. She is married to King Louis VII and they have one daughter together and are currently expecting another child in a couple of months.Today we sat down with her to talk about her life and about being the Duchess of Aquitaine.
What is it like being Duchess? EA: Well, it is quite an overwhelming experience in itself by just waking up in the morning. Louis and I work very hard to keep this kingdom together and very strong.
Speaking of Louis, how is he? EA: Louis is doing very well and as you’ve heard he has left for a little business trip that I have been banned to go on because of my condition right now I just need to rest.
Is he excited for baby Number 2? EA: Yes, he is very excited for the 2nd baby because he wants a son and he wants to show him how to fight and grow up and be a knight.
Do you want it to be a boy? EA: I really have no preference I wouldn’t hate it if we had a boy and I wouldn’t hate it if it’s another girl so either or or me.
What names are you thinking of? EA: If it’s a boy I was going to name him William after my father and if it’s another girl then Louis and I will decide then what her name is.
Well enough about the baby for a second what do you think about the crusades? EA: Well i don’t hate the crusades their helping some people in the world and the one that Louis and I went on was a very life changing experience for me to see.
Do you believe the kingdom is safe at this point? EA: I believe that the kingdom is beyond safe and that nobody should have any fright over safety whatsoever. The kingdom at this point is so strong and secure because that’s the way Louis and I wanted it to be and need it to be for a very long time
article 4
Marlina and Jeff Lee have been married for 31 years and live in Hawaii, where he grew up. She moved there from California to attend college. Together, they run a health club in Kona called The Club. They have two children: Kira, 29, and Kyle, 27. Following is a condensed and edited version of our conversation.
Growing up I always told people I was going to move to Hawaii and marry a fair-haired guy that surfs. Sure enough, at 19 in August of ’79 I transferred to the University of Hawaii. I had another boyfriend, but I remember seeing Jeff on campus and thinking, “Who is that?” Then I got a job at this restaurant and he was working there. Months went by without me talking to him except to say, “I need four on table 10!”
Jeff: There aren’t a lot of opportunities to talk and I had a girlfriend and she had a boyfriend, so we had to be respectful of that. But the first time we talked, really talked not about work — that was it. It was like, I’d kind of expected this, but now I knew she felt the same way. And that first night I was already testing the waters; kissing her goodnight, giving her a real hug. Later on she was like, “I can’t believe you hugged me like that and kissed me like that the first time we talked.” Marlina: He walked me to my car and kissed me goodnight, knowing I had a boyfriend. I called my mom the next day and told her I’d met the guy I was going to marry — and it wasn’t the guy I was dating. What was it that attracted you to each other initially? Marlina: He was a blond-haired surfer-looking guy. Really highly prized characteristics. Jeff: She had all of the makings physically for sure. But it was more her energy and her eyes. There was no hesitation in the way she felt or what she thought and it was refreshing. There was no fear at all about anything. What was the proposal like? Marlina: We were at his brother’s wedding and I pretty much asked him when he was going to ask me. If I hadn’t I’d probably still be waiting. Jeff: I don’t recall what she is talking about. We’d been together less than a year and I remember that I was digging a pit, an underground oven to cook a pig in, and she just started talking about it and it was like: “Whoa! O.K., good with me! Just give us enough time to lay it out and let’s go.” Is living in paradise the key to a happy marriage? Marlina: Hawaii is very family oriented, which is great, but then of course, it’s just so beautiful and it encourages you to go out and do things. Jeff: I need to be in the ocean and the mountains, and I think that the over-socialization of city life leaves people less grounded. It’s in our nature to be with nature. I need nature for my balance; long term that’s important, and I don’t care who it was, I knew it was important to me and I wasn’t going to compromise what I needed. Marlina: But he’s always willing, at a moment’s notice, to drop everything just to do what I want to do. If I say, let’s go to the beach or watch the sunset, he’s always game. What about rough patches? Have you ever considered divorce? Jeff: Divorce, no; murder, quite often. But we’ve never had a discussion about giving up. There are times when things get quiet and we aren’t communicating and it’s probably when business gets in the way of us making time to keep doing things together a priority. When she says she is “not having fun,” that’s when I know it’s not just a passing comment and things are not good. Marlina: We’ve never had that knock-down-drag-out fight. We have a lot of respect for each other, so we are very careful in what we say. We never call each other names or say derogatory things, because you can’t take back things you say in the heat of the moment. There was one time when we could not communicate. It was probably something about the club; it’s always something about work and not about us. But I said, “O.K., I want a third party to weigh in” because he wouldn’t listen. But we didn’t end up doing that, we worked it out. He was so scared to have a third party there that he just started listening. I scared him straight. Jeff: She just has to say what she wants to do and I never turn that down, but it has to be said, because otherwise I’m going to fill that time with my own stuff.