Love and grief are intangibles yet they command a power our physical beings cannot control. To many, death is an end in itself, but to others it is merely a beginning to eternity. We are aware of double tragedies that have taken place in the past especially when couples are so deeply in love and attached to each other. When one partner departs the other follows almost immediately or soon after. Their spirits live on, beyond the grave.

One such tragedy both Hollywood and the world has just experienced is the passing of Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds. The current generation are more familiar with Carrie Fisher due to her ‘Star Wars’ fame but to many others we grew up with Debbie Reynolds and emphatised with her ups and downs in life.

We felt sad with her when Eddie Fisher left her for Elizabeth Taylor after only five years of marriage. We cried with her whenever her song ‘Am I that easy to forget’ was played over the radio.

We did not know much about Carrie Fisher then until she made a name for herself with ‘Star Wars’. She was the pretty Princess Leia who spotted two round buns on either side of her head. Her fame overshadowed her past and the heartaches she must have experienced growing up at such a tender age without her biological father around.

Fast forward 30 years later and we see her again in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ exactly a year ago. Though the years had taken a toll on her in looks and size she was still the beautifully matured Princess Leia to us and we were glad to see her again.

On Christmas Day we learnt of her heart attack and demise soon after. Before this loss could sink in we heard of Debbie Reynolds fatal stroke while preparing for Carrie’s funeral. Her last words were, “I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie.” The heartache, grief and love for her daughter allowed her to let go and move on in her faith and belief in an afterlife.

As both Hollywood and the world are left to mourn their loss, we can only pray that both mother and daughter are reunited in a good place in happiness and contentment for eternity.

May the Force be with them!