I remember when I was 6 or so, we stayed with her in England. There are a few things I remember from that visit. First, she had a dog. And cats, lots of cats. And there was one cat who was best friends with the dog. Also that's where Cimmy got her first taste of champagne (on her 3 year old b-day). And we watched the Lord of the Rings cartoon on the telly. Most embarrasing of all was the night before we left I threw up apple juice all over her carpet.
More recent memories are from my 9 month say in Oxford. I never saw her very much, even though I probably should have called on her more often. I remember going to a small dinner party when Dad and I first came into town. The conversation was slightly drunk and very witty. And I met an Australian named Bruce. My god-mother was the one who told me Princess Di had died. I called her up that morning (5 years and a few days ago) to see about visiting her and she told me about it. She used to call everyone darling. And take in cats. She had this orange cat who had been abused by his prevoius owner. By the time I came around he had just started warming up to people other than her. He used to follow me around whenever I came by. I remember I stayed over during Holloween. I brought her single malt whiskey from a brewery in Scottland I had been to. She really liked it. I remember that she took me out the wed before I was to go home (I was skipping my final art class). She took me to a really nice resturant and i had a shrimp cocktail. And I was a little bit more drunk than I wanted to be. I wrote her once after I got back to the states; for her birthday. Late september, but before mine. the 21st, i think. She never wrote back.
I should have writen more. or called. last i heard, before tonight, she was going back to India. I don't know if she did or not. I don't know how or when she died. But I'll miss her. The self-proclamed Dutchess of Osney Island.