Friends
Jay Aiyar, Jubilant. “The Hindu scriptures say that children choose their parents, and that the more evolved souls wait around till they find the perfect family they want to be part of and enter the mother’s womb before birth. In Laine’s case this has got to be true– she chose to be with you all and enjoyed every minute being loved and nurtured. She came to bring joy and heal the agony post-Mia. I watch her amazing internet videos of Raghupathi and jana gana, feel an instant connection with her, and weep. (as does my mom, who remembers my brother Sriram, whom we lost when he was six; I was too young to remember much). I remember you, your mom and Mathew talk so fondly about Laine’s funny repartee’s during our Mysore trip, and know how much she was loved. Life is an enigma. As I get older, I come to realize that there is so much beyond our control and that when a being’s predetermined time on earth is over, when their mission is accomplished, there is nothing stopping them from moving on to their next mission, in a different family, or back in the hands of God. “The soul never takes birth and never dies at any time nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The soul is birthless, eternal, imperishable and timeless and is never terminated when the body is terminated: — the Gita. Let’s celebrate Darling Laine’s life as we mourn her loss physically. She is in very safe hands and smiling from Heaven, protecting all of you.”
Yuhua Ji. “I can’t believe what I learned today. NO, NO NO!!! It’s NOT true!!!! The devastating news makes me so upset and angry. My heart is broken. I can’t hold my cry and tears for life and I don’t know what to think and what to feel… I can’t find words to express my sadness, but only blame and accept that all of us are totally powerless…Dear Mathew, Anna and Mathai – our hearts go out to you and let’s pray together. Let’s believe that our sweet Madeline is on the journey to explore another beautiful world…Please let me know if I can do anything… Please hold Mathew tight and keep him warm… On the darkest and coldest night, please remember families and friends are with you… Stay together to be stronger… Yuhua”
Julia Q, daughter of Yuhua Ji, In Memory of Laine (April 6 2014) I cannot say, I knew her the best, I cannot say, I saw her the most. But in my heart, she will always remain unbroken— a young girl. A girl with heart of gold pure, as the night, purer than the largest diamond that we all want in sight. I hold her fragile soul‒ a glittering stone of purple. Its tiny convolutions capture the light to continue to let it sparkle. Sparkle with hope and melody, sparkle with laughter and love, sparkle with her memories, of everyone she’s thought of. We all hold the stone, perfect as can be, its tiny imperfections, make it all more beautiful to see. We all want it here, we all want it now to be our side every day. But in the rush of emotions, the stone falls away. It falls to the floor in a crash, shatters, a broken amethyst, millions of pieces scattered about, shards of memories to take. Gently, I pick up one. It’s my 10th birthday again. The crash of pins fall to the ground, her smile wafting, all around. I step over another one, I’m at her house at night, I’m so awkward as the I watch her run, around and around and around. Slowly each of us chose a piece, some, one, or two, or three. We all watch sadly at these memories, each fragment so tiny. A wind blows through the world, picking up each shard, drifting it through the air, as each find a place in our hearts. There the stones will stay, forever to remain in our scars, where the memories will replay and replay, and stay for all eternity. I cannot say, I knew her the best. I cannot say, I saw her the most. But in all’s heart, she will remain, our dear little Laine, who has taught us so much. Taught us how to love, taught us how to laugh, taught us how to enjoy life, no matter the tragic past. Laine will always stay, immortalized in our thoughts, her cherished grin, her happy laugh will forever have a piece of our hearts.