Subject: RE: BS: Royal Wedding Announcement
From:
Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 03:32 PM
The night before William's Mum and Dad were married, I was mourning the loss of my beautiful cat, Sophie. She'd been knocked down by a car, having been allowed out in the evening for the first time ever in her short life...
It was a hot, sultry summer night. July 28th...the day before the Royal Wedding....and everywhere there was a feeling of happiness in the air, a sense of history about to be made, a feeling of a whole country 'coming together' in celebration...There were street parties planned, fun things, happy things, and all the while, throughout July 29th British History and Tradition would be on show...
But for me, that unhappy night, everything else paled into insignificance as I held my dear little cat close to me, for the last time, never to feel her gentle paw wake me up in the morning, nor see her squashy little English Blue face purring down at me, her whole body running in happiness towards me...
I'd found her in the backstreets of Baker Street, in a pet shop. She'd been there for 2 whole weeks, staring miserably out of the window at the world. I was still living at home then, where there were already 4 cats and 2 dogs, so 'taking another cat home' was really pushing my luck. I held off, telling myself I couldn't...wouldln't...but one day I went for an interview, and I had to pass the shop again...I couldn't believe she was still there. And so I promised myself that if I got the job, I'd get the kitten.
I got the job.
I went into the shop on the way home, and asked to see her. She was so tiny, the runt of the litter, apparently...She climbed straight up me and purred in my ear, then she simply went to sleep on my shoulder...
That was it. Sophie was mine and I was hers! :0)
I took her home on the Metropolitan Line, in a cardboard box, her tiny grey paw sticking out now and then, as she tried to get out to the world.....
On the way home I called in to the vet to get her checked out. He took one look at her then sighed, sadly. He told me she was riddled with fleas, had many skin conditions, all contagious, and her little belly was so round and filled with worms that she couldn't even lie down properly. "You can't take her home with all your other animals." he advised.."If they catch what she has it'll cost you a small fortune to cure. Besides, it would be kinder to put her down, she's so many things wrong with her."
Then, she looked up at him, her little green eyes screwed up into a kind of smile, in her squashy little face...and she purred, patted him with her paw. I stared at him through tear filled eyes...already knowing my decision...He sighed again, picked her up then said "On the other hand, you could isolate her for 6 weeks, and try your best!"
I was already there. :0)
And so, Sophie came home, and she was cured of all her ills and alls. She blossomed into a small grey beauty, beloved by everyone, especially my father, who simply adored her, (after he'd read me the riot act for yet another animal turning up) ;0) His temper, rarely seen, only lasted half an evening, because Sophie curled up on his shoulder too...and kissed his ear...
He didn't stand a chance... :0)
Well, Dad had just retired before Sophie died...and he was so looking forward to being at home with her all day....and then, the night of the Royal Wedding came round and his dream ended...
His grief was heartbreaking to see....
Many years later I watched an even deeper grief taking place. The grief of two young boys who'd lost their Mother, a mum they loved with all their hearts....
She was hated by some within the Media and The Intelligensia, who carped on and on how this woman had no examinations, so was apparently, 'thick as a brick'....Oh my how they criticised her, ridiculed her...
But a whole NATION turned out to see her to her final resting place, whilst an entire WORLD looked on in grief-stricked silence...
Behind her coffin walked her beloved sons, heads bowed, faces staring at the floor, minds trying to think of anything but what was all around them..
God they coped well!
This kind, loving, sensitive woman had brought them up so well. She'd poured love into them, almost as if she knew she'd not be in their lives for long. She hugged them and kissed them and held them close. She fought for them, taught them how privileged they were to lead the lives they did. She took them to meet ordinary folks, in ordinary places...and left her mark on them in so many positive ways.
Next April Diana's first-born son will marry the woman he loves.
Yet again British History will be being made, whilst the whole world watches.
One person will be missing from the wedding, the very person who'd have loved, more than anyone else, to be there. I'm sure she'll be there in Spirit..and many of the people who turn out to cheer William and Kate on their way will the very same people who turned out to cheer Charles and Diana, and who were there for Diana at the end..
I hope they all have the most Beautiful Day of Days, especially William and Kate.
I hope the entire nation comes together again, for Diana's son. I hope that new friendships are formed, new relationships started, new communities are formed as people have their street parties and celebrations again.
There is way too much Grief in this unhappy world these days. Joy is something to be treasured.
William has known way too much grief for a young man, so I'm glad that Kate will be there for him now...and that he found it perfectly 'normal' to fall in love with a woman he loved, rather than someone from the correct Royal Circle.
Diana taught him well...and she'd be so very proud of him.
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sj
