I followed her life for years, as our "lives" began at the same time. We became engaged at the same time to men in different stations than our own. (I married into a family of engineers from that of farmers.) I watched her wedding in the middle of the night with my new husband's arms around me. We separated at the same time and divorced. We both dedicated our lives to our 2 children and charities that need us. Overall, our lives changed significantly because of our marriages.
Clearly, I am not famous and I'll never be as pretty as she was. I wish I was as thin! Through the grace of God I have survived the streets. And I re-married my husband. Just like many friends, our lives have crossed, strayed, and crossed again.
She did not embrace me or know me, but she touched my life just the same. In all that we knew about her, she was a friend just as real as one down the street. I knew her heart. I was there in her excitement and in her heartbreak, and in her attempts to find her adult calling. I applauded her values and causes. She added strength and a human touch to my struggles, too.
She is not dead. I like the theory that her death was staged. We know that she wanted to retire from public life soon. She embarrassed the royal family. Prince Charles would benefit from her exit of public life. But how would someone as famous as Princess Di ever become a private citizen again? I want to think that this is a well-intentioned hoax, although I concede that her body is probably in a coffin in London.
Princess Diana is not dead. She will live on
in our hearts and our actions. I will think of her as our kids
grow. I'll remember her as cures are found and wars ended. We
will never forget her.