I serendipitously bumped into Princess Diana and Prince Charles riding by in their red gilded horse drawn carriage, just as I was coming out of Victoria Station with my friend Peter in 1985- like a dream, for a split second in time, my wish was granted.
Peter had met me at Heathrow Airport to assist this newbie to Europe in my travel from the airport to the ship I was sailing from Portsmouth to go to work in Le Havre, France. As we hopped onto the tube to his flat near Victoria Station, he asked me if there was anything I would like to do during my 8 hour layover – I had jokingly replied that it would be nice to meet Princess Di and Prince Charles – he said “wouldn’t we all like to meet them? I have lived here my entire life and I have only ever seen them on the tele.” I explained to Peter I had a premonition before leaving for this trip to Europe, I had dreamed that I was Princess Diana – well, that I was married to Prince Charles!! The fairy tales ran deep, yet I grew excited about this being an omen that I would meet them… In total disbelief Peter standing at almost 7 foot tall snapped shots of the royal procession above everyone’s heads.
I was beginning to understand the mechanics of “thoughts become things!!” tho I had not met the grace of knowing Mike Dooley… yet. I remember waging a bet with my colleagues at work when we visited the ship yard of Les Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre for a tour of our current pride and joy, the “WINDSTAR”, a luxury cruise sail ship. I was astounded to be working on the cost-accounting for the world’s first totally computer operated, 4 masted sailboat, berthing 150 passengers and crew. When I uttered in awe, that I could not wait to take a voyage upon her, the entire accounting team turned to me and said “Michelle none of us will ever be able to afford to take a voyage on her, it’s for the rich and famous”. I said “you want to bet?”. I gleamed in absolute gratitude for the trip I would be taking aboard her, reminiscent of the Ballad of Lucy Jordan bet I had wagered on the year before. It was at the age of 27 that I knew I had found forever, as I rode through the streets of Paris in a sports car with the warm wind in my hair. So I was getting the hang of this “thoughts become things” phenomena, nonetheless.