Catherine

Given that I roam the Bronte moors at least twice a day, I guess it was inevitable that sooner or later I would run into Catherine amongst the heather.  And today I did.

I first spied her from a distance, sitting on a rock, gazing at the distant moors, every inch the romantic heroine.  But when, later, Joss and I encountered her on the path, this Catherine proved to be no ghost, but a lawyer from upstate New York.

She was, however, named after Emily Bronte’s famous Cathy; as well as after her own great aunt – two Catherines who both died tragically young deaths (one fictitiously, one in real life).

In consequence, Catherine has always felt her name to be something of a curse.  And feels it even more, now that she herself has been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness.

Catherine is, though, anything but tragic.  She’s laughing and smiling and determined to make the most of life.  It was an absolute pleasure to meet her and a privilege to be allowed to share her story here.