Macy - a cat of Barrow; a young woman of India who loved cats remembered on this day
Friday, November 22, 2013 at 8:04PM ;)
Here is Macy again, peeking over the knee of Gabe Tegoseak.
In August of 2007, I made my first trip to India to attend the Hindu wedding of my niece, Khena Swallow, to Vivek Iyer of Bangalore. In their tradition, the reception takes place the night before the wedding. There, I met scores of Vivek's relatives, beginning right away with his cousin Ganesh, who immediately befriended me and shortly thereafter brought his sister, Soundarya, to my table. Upon seeing her, I felt a special connection, as though she were not a stranger but someone I had known forever. I dismissed this as nonsense. There was a third sibling there, Sujitha, of classic beauty.
I wanted to know all three, Soundarya especially, due to this feeling of connection. Yet I reasoned that the short minutes we would spend visiting this night and possibly a few more at the wedding the next day would be all we would ever spend together. I would return to Alaska and that would be that. The next day after the wedding feast, Soundarya invited me to take a walk, but called herself "Sandy." On that walk, we met a kitten and that was that.
We stayed in near constant contact after and became close confidants. She often sought my advice in her search for love. I lack such wisdom but did tell her a few relevant stories about courting Margie. I promised her that when she found her man, I would return and photograph her wedding. She found him. I kept my promise. And always, somewhere, there was a cat involved.
Three years ago yesterday, her husband Anil Kumar, lost his life in a car crash. Three years ago today Soundarya Anil Kumar, my beloved soulfriend and muse, chose to follow him. In March of 2012, I returned to India for Sujitha's wedding. Although nothing has come together yet, Ganesh, who I inspired to became a photographer, hopes to marry soon.
Somehow, I hope to return to photograph his wedding, too.
Barrow, Gabe Tegoseak, Macy the cat in Alaska, Artists, cat, filmmakers
Reader Comments (2)
I always enjoy the opportunity to read of your family & friends in India. The happiness of marriage you wrote of and shared through images lifted me up and then the sorrow of untimely death tugged at my heart. As you wrote for months, while in mourning, of the life, love and kindred spirit connection you shared with Sandy many of us mourned with you. Of that I have no doubt. When you write of Sandy and display her beautiful soul through your camera lens she comes to life on your pages. Her story is one of the most heart wrenching tales ever, yet the bond of love she shared with her husband and friend is humbling and hauntingly lovely.
Rebecca
Thank you, Rebeccca. In many ways, I did not want to repeat the story and doing so left me very drained, but I could not let the anniversary slip by without a note and there are good many readers, especially since I got into this Instagram thing, completely unfamiliar with the story.