Dear friends, whoever is reading this, I have a sad message to deliver to you.
This is Mai Harinder Kaur, not Lily writing.
My dearest friend, closer than a sister, died last autumn, after a brief illness.
Her passing was as quiet and peaceful - and fearless - as her life, with her husband holding her right hand and me holding her left and her children gathered around her. . Her last words to us were, "I hope you two wild and beloved people will finally learn to make your peace." Then she smiled at us, closed her eyes and murmured, "Ah, yes."
She left us thus.
I have not written about her death in any of my blogs or on my web page, nor has her husband, Raj. I am not yet ready to talk about this loss.
I still am not up to writing about her; that will have to wait. I just feel the time has come to inform those who read here.
She is much missed.
3 comments:
I wish I would've read this sooner... I always checked to see if she had a new post, but after a year, I didn't think she was going to write anymore. This saddens me...
I hope you and Raj do make your peace. My prayers are with her family and friends.
i'm so sorry to hear that...
Dear Lin and Opung Chikal,
I know I should have told all my cyberfamily last autumn when it became clear she was dying. Somehow, I just couldn't. Please forgive me for that. You see, sometimes, I am not strong.
Her death was like her life, as I said. Nothing noisy or complaining. The word "Saint" is tossed around a lot these days to describe all sorts of people. Lilly was the genuine article.
I miss her; she was a vital part of my life for 50 years. That's almost my whole life.
As for Raj, he is Raj. He went back to Montreal soon after her death. Their daughter, Rose, tells me that he's in really bad shape, as might be expected. I will not impose on his grief.
I am at peace with him; I realise that his nastiness was a combination of high spirits and a certain jealousy toward me. Men rarely understand these close friendships between women. I doubt he is at peace with me or anyone else at this point. He is in my prayers.
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