<h1>Diana V</h1>

Happy New Year to all! 2010 should be a splendid year.... at least we all would like to hope so. My 2009 was a long, hard and difficult year but I accomplished something I had been working for, for 3 years and my family also had a momentuous moment of amazing fate which I hope will give us and our most precious much joy for many years to come.
Christmas was spent with the family, sorely missing mother, but giving it our all - good food, good company and happy moments to cherish.
Now, over the holidays, I have been reading an autobiography. Something I hadn't had time to do for too long. I kickstarted my biographical reading with 'D.V.' by Diana Vreeland.

Diana Vreeland 1903-1989

Reading this woman's words, which leap from one topic to the next, like she was having tea with you in the same room, brought a great deal of forgotten facts to light. You know, it's the kind of thing older people do... they start off talking about one thing and jump to the next, drawing on memories which after a long life, one starts to connect to others like a string of pearls. It reminded of the way I have often marvelled at the train of thoughts of all the elderly interviewees I have met over all my years in journalism. It's a pity we don't always give due importance to older people and the experience they can share with us.

I picked up her book because I was interested in her experience as a world-famous editor of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue and her connection to the Conde Nast group. Actually the most one reads in her book is about her social life, her travels, her clothes, her joie de vivre and her memories - Coco Chanel, Wallis Simpson, Conde Nast, Josephine Baker....

Here are some of her most extravagant quotes...

"Have I told you that I think water is God's tranquilizer?"

"I've been with wonderful young people always - whatever their age."

"I've always been so flattered that anyone, whatever his status, feels he can ask me to a party."

"There's no such thing as a slack French face."

Incidentally this morning I came across a posting about another great woman who was also involved in publishing. Check out Advanced Style and the posting about Fleur Cowles.....

And once again... Have a Happy New Year!