In Fond Memory of Connie
April
My father was an acquaintance of Connie's, and he introduced us
in 1984. If how kind she was to me over the years was an example
of what she gave to others, as I am positive it was, I'm sure endless reams
of people could tell you hundreds of warm and lovely stories about Connie.
Whether shopping or seeing the sites, or just hanging about at
home, Connie was a fun companion and flawless hostess. You could show up
at 8am in the morning (so long as you brought the milk bottles in with
you), the kettle of tea would be on. You could stumble in at midnight,
and have a place to crash.
Before and after my college dormitories opened/closed for the semesters,
Connie always gave me a place to stay, knowing I was far away from my usual
home in California -- and my closest family was in the Rhondda Valley in
Wales. So long as I did the ironing and ran errands, she consistently assured
my father I was earning my keep while she put a roof over my head... since
she had a bad hip for many years and was ill at various times, I was always
happy to help and make things easier for her around the house. It
was the least I could do in return for her generosity.
Connie's sense of humor
showed in her last "business card."
Some of my nicest memories of living in England were times spent
with Connie... The look on her face right before she broke into uproarious
laughter and dropped her teacup from my crack, "Well, my boyfriend asked
me to marry him, so I left the country!" Shopping in fancy London
Pavilion or just doing the marketing down in Shepherd's Bush... going 'round
to Tootsie's restaurant for a bite, or having a stroll around Holland Park
to see the rabbits and peacocks, I'll never forget what a happy and caring
person Connie was, and how she could encourage you to be the same in return.
