Thursday, July 16, 2009

Sir Edward and Lady Downes...Till Death Do Us Part









This is what you call True Love...for better for worst till death do us part. A quick recap...

Sir Edward, 85, was one of Britain's greatest conductor who work his way up from humble beginnings to lead the world's greatest orchestras, a roll call of achievements which included taking the baton for the first performance at the newly built Sydney Opera House.


Lady Downes, 74, half of century ago was an aspiring balet dancer. Got son... Caractacus and Boudicca.


The couple , a shared lifetime of personal and professional triumphs behind them, held hands for their final moments together before climbing on to seperate beds to drink the clear luquid containing a fatal dose of barbiturates.


Their death were watched by their weeping family. Imagine the sad moment watching your family die in front of you. Who won't shed the tears.


"After 54 happy years together, they (our parents) decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems. They died peacefully, and under circumstances of their own choosing with the help of the Swiss organisation Dignitas in Zurich" said their son Caractacus and daughter Boudicca.


And I suddenly remember Romeo and Juliet, Layla and Majnun, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal...Can we consider the death of Sir Edward and Lady Downes as one amongst these love stories...or is this a suicide.


For me...you can't deny what the power of Love can do...and they died with love all around them and I end this article with this poem by Majnun...


“I pass by these walls, the walls of Layla...
And I kiss this wall and that wall.
It’s not Love of the houses that has taken my heart
But of the One who dwells in those houses"


Add to Technorati Favorites

2 comments:

Related Posts with Thumbnails