THE DEATH OF A PARTNER

IN 2005 I CELEBRATED A BLESSING IN THE UNITARIAN CHURCH IN DUBLIN FOR AINE AND CINDY. CINDY WAS FROM THE US AND AINE WAS FROM DUBLIN.

IN 2007 AINE AND CINDY CAME TO LARNE IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO CELEBRATE THEIR LEGAL CIVIL PARTNERSHIP.

SADLY LAST WEDNESDAY AINE'S FUNERAL WAS CELEBRATED IN DUBLIN. SHE WAS ONLY 42 AND HAD BATTLED FOR YEARS WITH LEUKAEMIA. 

A WEEK EARLIER I HAD VISITED AINE IN DUBLIN'S MATER HOSPITAL AND CELEBRATED HER "LAST RITES" WITH HER. 

CINDY, WHO WANTED TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO EVERYBODY AT HER FUNERAL ASKED ME TO COMPOSE A REFLECTION SHE COULD READ. BELOW IS THAT REFLECTION: 

AINE – THE CELEBRATION OF A LIFE

AINE:

WE REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTH.

WE REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE YOUR OUTER AND INNER BEAUTY.

WE RECALL AND CELEBRATE YOUR VITALITY AND YOUR JOY.

WE RELISH YOUR CAPACITY FOR LOVE AND PLEASURE.

WE ESTEEM YOUR CAPACITY FOR RIGHTEOUS RAGE.

WE KNEW YOUR DISCERNMENT OF THE ESSENTIAL AND THE PHONY.

WE ADMIRE YOUR GIVEN STRENGTH.

WE RESPECT YOUR OWNERSHIP OF YOUR WEAKNESS.

WE SMILE AT YOUR ASSUMED CONFIDENCE.

OUR HEARTS MISS A BEAT AS WE RECALL YOUR STRUGGLES.

AND, DEAREST AINE, WHAT ARE MY HOPES FOR YOU NOW:

THAT THE UNIVERSAL HAS WHISKED YOU TO ITS BEATING BREAST;

THAT YOU NOW PART-TAKE OF THE SWEETEST OF BREADS;

THAT YOU NOW IMBIBE THE MOST APPEASING OF DRINKS;

THAT YOU NOW HAVE PERFECT PEACE, REST AND HAPPINESS;

THAT ALL EFFORTS AND STRUGGLES ARE NO MORE;

THAT YOUR BODY IS FREE OF ALL PAIN AND ILLNESS;

THAT YOUR MIND IS CONSUMED WITH ALL THAT IS GOOD;

AND, I ALSO KNOW, THAT WHEREVER YOU ARE;

THERE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN;

THE LINGERING SCENT;

OF THE PERFUME THAT WAS DISTILLED

BY ALL THAT WE LOVED AND SHARED.

CINDY