Thursday, September 10, 2009

Another One Crosses Over

Just got word that Niru Jethai (maa’s older sister) passed away. She was in her late 70’s- a poet, an author, a teacher , once beautiful and charming who lost hope and optimism, the zest to live after her son died mysteriously about 10 years ago. He was her youngest, the apple of her eye who got taken away from her tragically, unexpectedly. As a mother, she suffered her loss silently and in this pain, she gave up on herself. She let life’s worries , troubles, complexities pull her into this dark, debilitating emotional abyss that no one could save her from.

I don’t want to remember the way she was or what became of her in her time of death. I want to celebrate her for who she was for most of her life. She was a gorgeous woman with flawless skin, beautiful long tresses, who sang like an angel, who had a smile that could easily light up a room. She persevered, she labored, she raised two sons. She was their rock, their beacon especially after they lost their father to a heart attack. Yes, Jethai became a young widow but the hard times did not deter her from fulfilling her dreams both as a mom and as a professional.

RIP Niru Jethai. You will be missed, dearly.

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