Myspace.com Blogs - Life and death in April - Amel Larrieux MySpace Blog

The most extraordinary, tragic thing happened to two people I love very dearly, when what should have been an exquisite parallel in the human experience went terribly wrong. Each looked forward to the birth of a girl. Each had a healthy pregnancy, free of any complications. Unbelievably, their due dates were a mere, one day apart. Two weeks before this date, a strong, brave, generous woman would have to give birth with the knowledge that the child would have no heartbeat when she arrived. A week later, 3000 miles away, a girl child was born. The apex and the end; one heart twisted into an agony immeasurable and undeviating; the other in complete alignment with this warm, breathing person she has never seen, yet seen a million times before. Both woman, inundated with questions as they accept another sleepless night. The truth is, we forget the miracle and the mystery that is "birth." The fact that the fate of the newborn could go either way regardless of how healthy the mother or normal the pregnancy- demonstrates just how fragile is the process of pregnancy and birth. The causes of stillbirth continue to elude the medical field, or so it seems when I did a little research about this otherwise, "foreign" subject. Sadly, it is yet another area where research could really use more funding. In any case, I hate that I cannot erase what will surely stain the hearts and minds of my friend's family for eternity. It is with a bit of wistfulness that I celebrate the new life being enjoyed by my other friend and her mate. If I could simply spare everyone all sorrow and loss; idealistic or not, its my dream.I had a ridiculously brilliant time in Japan, as well as a stop in California, where our girls were staying while we left the country. The Japanese continue to astonish me with their hospitality and generosity. So many people brought me gifts; even the girlfriend of one of the musicians-who happens to live there- brought gifts for me and ones to take back to my daughters. I reunited with many souls I had encountered at previous shows in japan, got to meet some who had begun visiting myspace in anticipation of my arrival and even made some new friends who have already begun the correspondence process. The jet lag of being in three different time zones in two weeks is really catching up to me, and I can hardly keep my eyes open, at any given time. So, before I jet off to my youngest's, mother's day celebration in her fourth grade classroom, I wish all you mothers-biological or not- a groovy Sunday. There are too many moms I know that should be having their feet kissed on the regular for all the backbreaking, mind-boggling, heart wrenching, rewarding hours they put into their children. I will be back later this week with more.Have some breakfast in bed for me, and don't wash the dishes; let em' fill the dishwasher and even run it!mellie Amel Larrieux's Upcoming Shows:05/25/2008 07:00 PM - Alhambra Palace 1240 W. Randolph Street Chicago, Illinois 60607 US Cost:TBD Description:Purchase tickets at www. groovetickets. com locally at Dr Wax Record stores07/12/2008 07:00 PM - President casino 1000 N. leonor K. Sullivan Blvd Saint Louis, Missouri 63102 US Cost:TBDwww. presidentcasino. com