On Soundarya's birthday, cake was cut on three continents, there were animals: small, big, newborn, passed on and symbolized
Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 12:01PM 
Manoj, fiance and more to Sujitha Ravichandran, Soundarya's younger sister, put out a request for Sandyz birthday that we who loved her should celebrate with cake for us and her. Although I had put up my birthday remembrance on the 12th, so that her family and friends in India could see it early on her birthday of April 13, I waited until the morning of the 13th here to begin our celebration.
Margie then mixed up a cake and put it in the oven, to bake for Soundarya. As it baked, I went walking. I came upon a frozen puddle that held this face - or faces. One can clearly see the ears and face of a cat, its chin resting atop its front paws. Yet, look closely and you will see that within the face of the cat there is a human face as well.
One of those little odd things that happens in nature, and on a day such as this.
Cats played an enormous role between Sandy and me. A gigantic role. I have been told from multiple good authorities that cats are very rare in India, but for Sandy and me, they were ubiquitous; they were everywhere.
As I walked in the morning of the 13th, her birthday, it was late night of her birthday in India. So I placed a Skype call over the local AT&T 3g network to Sujitha in Bangalore. It was an exquisitely beautiful morning - the sky clear and blue, the snow on the mountains bright against it, the clean, frosted air wonderfully chilled and pleasant.
So I tried to describe what I was seeing and experiencing to Niece Suji, which is very different than anything she would ever see in Bangalore.
It seemed to me that my description was inadequate. I wanted her to somehow sense and feel it herself. Suddenly, it struck me - I could break the ice of a puddle with my foot and let her hear the sound of the ice cracking and crunching beneath my shoe.
I stopped, held the phone near to the puddle and then crunched it repeatedly with my foot.
Sujitha, I am pleased to say, was pleased.
After Margie baked and frosted the cake, she cut it into three pieces - one for me, one for her and one for Soundarya. Jim observed. That's Margie's thumb, there at the edge of the plate.
I was a little unsure as to what to do with Sandy's piece of cake. I could eat it myself, but that didn't feel right. "Why don't you take it out back and leave it for her where we have buried the cats and dogs?" Margie suggested.
So I took Soundarya's plate to the back door and then opened it. Jim shot out ahead of me and led me across the grass in the direction of our pet cemetery, but stopped short of entering there himself.
Although she never met them, Sandy knew my cats - both the living and the dead. She knew Royce and sent me words of comfort after his death - just about one year ago. So I put her piece of cake at the head of his grave. I then looked through the trees into the clear blue sky and spoke a few words to her.
There was nothing more to do after that, so I stepped out of the cemetery. I found Jim waiting for me on this stump, right at the cemetery edge.
Manoj, "Manu" - posted these pictures on a special web page set up by Sandy's cousins to commemorate her birthday. He took them at his celebration in London, where he is looking for work. Sandy's brother, Ganesh, also told of his cake in Pune - and of course there those in Bangalore had their own cake.
So on her birthday, Soundarya... Sandy... Sound... Soundu... Muse... was remembered on at least three continents.
Not long after I pedaled my bike to Metro Cafe, Kristine from almost next door showed up with a bagful of puppies - born at 2:00 AM, 14 hours earlier.
It was a nice touch to add to Sandy's birthday... and not the last one, either...
In the evening of Sandy's birthday, this young bull moose came to our house. I was sitting on the couch when I saw him trot through the backyard, so I grabbed a camera and followed him. He stopped in the low growth that lies just beyond the pet cemetery and there allowed me to take this portrait.
So, Soundarya - this moose is for you. This is your birthday moose. I hope you like him.
Reader Comments (7)
Lovely! Thanks for the cake blog! Really touching... Love those new born puppies, so cute!
Soundu will definitely love the Moose and the Cake and the wonderful person who prepared it for her and also her Best Soul Friend...
Love You Guys... Wonderful post.
I loved the Kitty memorial..its so wonderful.
We both should break ice once, together, in the lovely place called Alaska!
Tears and tears are all I get when I read through this ....beautiful way to remember Sound...
just beautiful ♥
tears are all i had for dis blog uncle bill really loved it.... she is living with us your proving it to all of us daily and through these photos it really shows how much she meant.... happy birthday aka where ever you are... v love u today, tomorrow and for ever more to come!!!! <3
Happy late birthday to Soundaraya. An beautiful story.
What a beautiful post. Thank you Bill.