I have had a severe fever for several days; I seldom got out of bed. Perhaps the best thing that came out of it was the touching devotion Mr. Astor paid to me, cooking, cleaning, and doting on me. We have had a difficult time of late.

The most astounding news came from Mamie, who knows how much I love The Duchess of Alba. As quoted by The Guardian, "She is one of the richest women in Spain, owns a dozen castles whose walls are hung with works by Goya, Velázquez and Titian and is a distant relative of King James II, Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales. Now, however, the 18th Duchess of Alba is giving away her immense personal fortune in order to be free to marry a minor civil servant.

According to Guinness World Records, Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva, born in Madrid's Palacio de Lira, has more titles than any noble on earth, being a duchess seven times over, a countess 22 times and a marquesa 24. As head of the 539-year-old House of Alba, her privileges include not having to kneel before the pope and the right to ride on horseback into Seville cathedral."

What is she thinking? Oh, I know.....LOVE. It isn't worth that much, but when you are 85 you know you can't take it with you.