crash
Five years ago I was living in Paris, my partner had recently told me he had decided to move back to Iceland, he was packing and his family was visiting for the last time. I fell asleep watching BBC choice, and woke up in the morning to the news of Diana's death.
I felt shattered, my nerves gave up and I started sobbing for what felt like ages. I went out to buy a couple of Diana bios and some black ribbon that I pinned on my t-shirt, then went mourning outside the hospital where she'd been taken. I felt absolutely miserable for several days.
Unbeknownst to people around me (and myself as well), I was trying to come to terms with my own personal loss, and the only way I was able to do that at the time was through affiliation to a public event that was for me as sudden and inexplicable and shocking.
Where were you five years ago?
Monday 2 September 2002 at 7:26 am
Hmmm. I had just arrived back from an overnight canoe trip on the Rappahonock with my great pal, R. It had been almost a year and half since I had split up, after 13 years, with my ex. It was the first time I had ever lived by myself in my life. I was still a bit numb, a bit scared, a bit going out too much every night of the week.
Friday 13 September 2002 at 8:22 am
I remember well, another of those dates you can not forget where you were. I was at a campground near Morinville, Alberta having attended a wedding the day prior of my cousin. I woke with no phone and no cable or did not turn the radio on either. I went into town to my sisters in-laws home where we were meeting prior to going to brunch (her family and ours) She told me "Diana is Dead"… I was in shock, I said "Princess Diana?" (since we did not both know of any other Diana) and she confirmed it… I asked for details and was in disbelief. She and I both had felt for Diana in reading all the tabs of her marriage and poor family life with the Royals. We were amongst those that felt the loss as though it was someone we'd known.