Lou
Posted: November 8, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: death, Laurie Anderson, life is beautiful, Lou Reed, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed death, meditation, peaceful death, peaceful death at home 2 CommentsMy friend David sent me this passage from Laurie Anderson, upon her husband Lou Reed’s death:
“I have never seen an expression as full of wonder as Lou’s as he died. His hands were doing the water-flowing 21-form of tai chi. His eyes were wide open. I was holding in my arms the person I loved the most in the world, and talking to him as he died. His heart stopped. He wasn’t afraid. I had gotten to walk with him to the end of the world. Life – so beautiful, painful and dazzling – does not get better than that. And death? I believe that the purpose of death is the release of love. At the moment, I have only the greatest happiness and I am so proud of the way he lived and died, of his incredible power and grace.I’m sure he will come to me in my dreams and will seem to be alive again. And I am suddenly standing here by myself stunned and grateful. How strange, exciting and miraculous that we can change each other so much, love each other so much through our words and music and our real lives.”
“Life — so beautiful, painful and dazzling.”
While I wish the death experience were so lovely and peaceful for everyone, I know first-hand that it is not. Nonetheless, I am glad it was lovely and peaceful for Lou Reed and that Laurie Anderson was kind enough to share that experience with us. Powerful words and moving sentiment to carry into the weekend.
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The Pink Underbelly 
Tears in my eyes. Gonna go hug my husband. Thanks!
I can feel the emotion swelling up inside me… mostly in my nose, for some reason. A long-time friend’s father passed away recently. I was at the funeral, and they were talking about his passing in the eulogy. He actually said he wished everyone could die like him, feeling so peaceful and grateful and ready. It breaks my heart and yet, it makes me wonder how he reached that point of serenity? It is a very good, very enviable thing. Life is most certainly beautiful, painful and dazzling. ~Catherine
(We talk about death and disease and the agony of it all so often. I appreciate you sharing this story.)