Meet My Friend, Baroness White

I sort of have my own version of a fairy tale story.

I was pleasantly reminded of it while cleaning out several boxes of old correspondence that had gotten lost in a "Way Too Crowded Now It Isn't Anymore Guest Bedroom Closet".....

In 1981, I was blessed to find myself based in London for a half year of graduate classes at the University of London.  Without question, those months solidified my  love of All Things English and opened my eyes to a very wide world that has entranced me ever since.   One event in particular fell into my lap and has enriched my life to this day.

After a week of mid-term break travel throughout Scotland with a friend, I stayed on a couple of extra nights alone in Edinburgh.  I must admit--as my months abroad stretched on--my emphasis on "experiences" surpassed my emphasis on "studying."  Needing to return to London--I took a 5pm-ish train from Waverly station to King's Cross.  I had not booked a seat and did not even think of doing so.  How was I to know it was a 4 hour express--and very very VERY full.

I walked through at least eight carriages before I found one empty seat in a facing each other foursome of seats.  I plopped down across from a very British looking lady in a tweed skirt, serious shoes and gray hair.  I remember smiling in relief and pulling out two books for the journey-- Pride and Prejudice and a biography on Louis Mountbatten.

I have had a lifelong habit of reading two books at a time--and switching back and forth.  When I took a break from my two books--the British Lady initiated conversation and asked me if I was a student.  She continued to ask me questions and then we got talking about what I was reading and what did my parents think about me being so far from home.

The conversation was easy and we talked for a couple of hours.  When we were about an hour out of London, she asked me what was one thing I would like to do before I returned to the States.  Being 22 years old and not that many months removed from the wedding of Charles and Diana, I pipe dreamed that it would be wonderful to shake Princess Diana's hand.  (How profound!)

My seat companion said, "Such a pity I did not know you a few weeks ago.  You could have been my guest at the Prince of Wales'  Red Dragon Ball.  But instead, would you like to see The Queen's State Opening of Parliament in a couple of weeks?"

WHAT?????????????????  Who WAS this lady???  (Part 1)