Why I Loved Princess Diana (Do You Miss Her Too?)

Last weekend I went to the Home and Garden Show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In addition to the hundreds of displays of kitchens, mattresses, hot tubs (so many hot tubs!), furniture, block walls, landscaping and patio designs there was a curtained area featuring several of Princess Diana's dresses. As soon as I saw it, I couldn't wait to get in there because I was CRAZY about Princess Diana. As a matter of fact, I'm still crazy about Princess Diana. Not I'm-going-to-buy-and-display-every-commermative-plate-with-her-face-on-it crazy but I will admit to being a fan.

So while my friends were checking out a super cool shower stall, I slipped inside and started taking it all in. I was reading every word on every display and was all “OMG, I'm in the same room as Princess Diana's John Travolta dress!” (You know, that black dress she wore to the White House when she danced with John Travolta). And then my friend Carol was like “Danielle, these are knock offs. Princess Diana's real dresses aren't going to be sitting out in the open at the convention center.”

What!?

Go ahead and burst my bubble, why don't you!

Okay, whatever. Maybe the dresses weren't “real” but I still love Princess Diana. I got my first glimpse of her in 1981 when I was 15 and she wore that black strapless Emanuel gown to her first official engagement. I loved her smile and her fashion sense and as she matured, I loved her sense of compassion.

Diana was four years older than me and princess or not, she was someone I could identify with. I looked at her as a role model. I know that may sound silly but let me explain why:

She Was Shy and Insecure – As a shy, insecure teenager (and adult) I could relate to that. When she was nicknamed Shy Di, it made me feel like my shyness wasn't something to be ashamed of. It was something that could be...endearing.

Her Fashion Sense – Regardless of whether she was wearing a formal gown, a smart suit or a pair of jeans, Diana always looked great. I loved practically everything she wore. As someone who is “fashion challenged” I copied her like crazy – with the exception of anything with polka dots. I was never a fan of the dots.

The Way She Worked Out – Remember when those pictures of Diana working out in a gym were “leaked” to the press in the early 1990s? When I saw then I thought “So that's how she keeps looking so good” and immediately joined a gym. I'm happy to say I've made fitness a part of my life practically every day since. So thank you Princess Diana motivating me to become stronger, healthier and (a bit) slimmer.

Bad Marriage – Diana's difficult marriage and subsequent divorce taught us that life isn't always “happily ever after” - even when you're married to a prince. There will be good times, and bad times and sometimes things just don't turn out the way you'd like them to. The key is learning to roll with the changes.

Her Beautiful Children – No doubt about it, Diana loved her boys and enjoyed being a mother, despite spending long periods of time away from them. Remembering that helped alleviate my guilt when I worked full time and Justin spent a large chunk of his baby and toddler years in daycare.

Were you a fan of Princess Diana? Do you miss seeing pictures of her and reading about her life or have you not given her much thought since her death? 

If you'd like more of a Diana fix, check out this link: Princess Diana. Friend me on Facebook, find me on Twitter or email me at mcginn8@yahoo.com.

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