Thursday, June 25, 2015

Ode To Joy... And The Dowager Duchess

My Mother The Dowager Duchess is known by a number of different names. First, there's the name she was given at birth. I think there have only been three people who have ever called her by that name.

MIMI (2ND FROM RIGHT) WITH MOTHER AND SISTERS.
LILLY IS FAR RIGHT.
When The Duchess started school, her sister Lilly was 14. She registered her for kindergarten and, since she didn't like her little sister's given name, she gave her an entirely different one. All my mother's friends knew her by that name. And that's the name she has gone by, officially (although not legally), ever since. It's even on her marriage certificate.

However, a popular nickname for her original given name is Mimi. Most of her family — including, ironically, her sister Lilly — called her Mimi.

My father called her Mim. When San Geraldo met The Duchess, he followed my father's lead. So, San Geraldo, his family, and all our friends call her Mim. She signs her cards (and emails) to us, "Mom/Mim."


In honour of the 88th birthday of The Dowager Duchess, here's... "Ode to Mimi."

24 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Michael:
      I'm hoping she gets to celebrate with friends this weekend.

      Delete
  2. Wow, 88 years young! Your Mom is amazing and looks wonderful!

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    Replies
    1. Carole:
      Too bad we couldn't be there for birthday month this year. Last year was great.

      Delete
  3. MItchell, your song is a masterpiece. Say hello your fantastic Mum

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    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      Isn't that video a joy!?! (Pun intended.)

      Delete
  4. Please wish her a Happy Birthday from me and many more. She is an amazing, talented and loving person. Love from Carol Ricena

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  5. Replies
    1. Judy:
      Thanks. She'll be reading all the comments and will, yet again, be very grateful.

      Delete
  6. Best wishes to the DD/Mimi on her special day.

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    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      I look forward to seeing her on Skype tomorrow.

      Delete
  7. Happy Birthday from the kidling and I, to the Dowager Duchess Mim, on their shared birthday!

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    Replies
    1. Jacqueline:
      And happy birthday to the Kidling! She doesn't look anywhere near as old as the Duchess.

      Delete
  8. Here's to the Dowager Duchess! May she have many more happy birthdays!

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    Replies
    1. Wilma:
      As the saying goes... From your mouth to god's ear. Thanks!

      Delete
  9. I vote for Dowager Empress as the best name.

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    Replies
    1. Spo:
      Oh man, as if she's not already important enough!

      Delete
  10. Congratulations to your Mother aka Dowager Duchess. Hope she may celebrate many more of these special days.

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    Replies
    1. Peter:
      Thanks so much. Here's hoping we all have lots of very special days.

      Delete
  11. A very H.B. to D.D. May she have very many more - well, within reason of course.

    Pity that the name of Mim/Mimi has associations with a celebrity who, in my opinion, thinks she's God's gift to the rest of us mortals. Well I wouldn't swap your Dowager D. for M.C. at any time, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      My mother will love the "within reason" qualifier.

      I don't even know who M.C. is (or maybe I do and am just too dim to figure it out). Anyway, a major difference between her and The Duchess is: M.C. THINKS she's God's gift and The Duchess IS.

      Delete
  12. M.C.? - (Trying to avoid the tedium of spelling it out) Think "The most beautiful sound I ever heard......", add a superfluous 'H' to it, and then a surname that rhymes with 'Mary', 'airy', 'fairy', 'wary' - and voila, you got the ridiculously, over-praised spoilt bitch!
    Yes, give me your mum instead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      Blech!!! Thanks for not spelling it out completely. I'm with you 100 percent!

      Delete

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