Marie Boute

I would have to go far in order to understand the wonderful aspects of a tumultuous soul as the one I inherited from my mother, Marie Emmanuel Jeannick Gousse Boute. As she passed away a few days ago, she has suffered shortly from complications at the hospital that welcomed her for nearly a few days. Jeannick Gousse, who was full of LIFE a few days ago, as she left all of us now, humans with a happy smile on her face, at the age of 78. She was the daughter of Roger Gousse and of Mercedes Alexandre, both inseparable from the province of Jacmel in this gorgeous province of Haiti.

Her lips had a touch of gracious expression on them and her face was so rested, but not holding any malice whatsoever as I left the site of the funeral home in Jamaica, Queens: she merely died as a queen that she always wanted to be during the Carnivalesque festivities in Port-au-Prince,Haiti, during her flamboyant years in Port-au-Prince. This State has seen Jeannick growing, back in 1932 ; this State has also welcomed many nations all over the world with respect to the Pan Americanism movement and, my mother was also known as a Secretary in various Ministries of this complex island of Haiti.

She traveled sometimes ago to visit Puerto-Rico in 1962; went to other parts of the planet and settled finally for the State of New York where she was known as a Supervisor Telex operator for an International Bank on the very site of the former World Trade Center where she had retired from. With respect to all your accomplishments, Mom, I do thank you for raising all of us, your children, as “tough cookies” that you can feel proud of wherever you are, at the present time.

As Sinatra would say it in songs, “if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere around the globe”. You have to be tough to undergo what she has been through… And, God! She left five wonderful “tough cookies behind her”. She trained and encouraged, Erick, her son to keep on moving in life; Guylaine, her first daughter to keep on pulling through in spite of difficult passages experienced in life; endured difficult times with respect to our brother, Rudolph; went to unfolded troubles in relations to Jocelyne, and finally, hang on tight by the sides of the complicated guy I was, who became by virtue, the family historian in relations to any or ongoing tragedies. Because of these, Mom, I am happy you trained me as a Marine, and I will keep on moving forward in life no matter how difficult things may seem to be.

I do know that I can, because I discovered that I have the will of one of the worse fighters in a battle field , and you proved me that one can only succeed throughout perseverance . For these reasons, Mom I am glad you have spoken to me, face- to- face too at your hospital site, on Monday the 24th of October 2011, as openly as you did on that very day: I had wish I could have protected you more against anyone trying to take this vibrant life away from you, at present.

From your province in Jacmel to your surviving experience, in Port-au-Prince; to later, transiting in New York or elsewhere around the world, I also discovered we were all passengers of a given world and find myself proud in impacting others rediscover the beauty of being, just themselves, at this stage of my life, as you have helped me rediscover myself in the past one time to many.

You died with grace and with grace you will be kept in my heart forever. Your ashes will leave with me shortly thereafter to remain forever in the company of a grandson that you loved a lot: my late son, James Lajoie who is resting at the Fernwood Cemetery in Pennsylvania. He, too, was a fighter and I am evenly proud of both of you!

You have shown me how to give and to enjoy collecting the power of giving to others whenever I am doing a good deed: I am thanking you for all these invaluable gifts and, look! Mom… Look at the power of what you left behind: the process has already started, the lost ones have started rediscovering the secrets tunnels of the soundless songs of their hearts; the wary is saying why can’t I stop the war and concentrate much more on building up lasting relationships.

Many times, Mom, I saw you attempting to do the impossible in different situations and, indeed, you have motivated me to, ALWAYS keep on trying; keep on pushing my standards higher and higher.That is why I will continue doing that until I cannot do take it anymore.

You have deceived me sometimes as you have done to others, I guess. However, I always felt comfortable sharing something personal with you. Not that you were taking sides with me, to the contrary of how people generally thought of yourself ; sometimes, as a fierce friend, you did not care whether or not I was angry about your comments, and told me like it was …but, still I would never lost track of you, as you can see. I also never hesitated to tell you like it was. Nevertheless, you treated me with respect and I am glad that all your children are now surrounding you today, as it was always your will to have them being reunited around the fire of Strength . Hence for this, mother we are thanking you for leaving us this wonderful tribute of yours, though being apart from one another.

Everything and everyone you knew seem to have been touch by wonderful memories of yours, and they start considering the strength you have left them behind rather than having people focus on your mistakes. Never mind, Mom, we all did! We all did before the Lord!

But, now, rest in peace though a lot of fighters won’t measure up with you in years. May your father, Roger Gousse meet with you, half-way during the times of your traveling to escort you towards your Salvation, in Christ. May my master, Jesus-Christ which you indicated to leave his face behind as a souvenir as one of the many cards you wanted to leave behind, take you back with him in eternity; May he polish you up and tell you what else he wants from you wherever HE will decide to take you in heaven: I was Never your judge, Mom nor I would ever pretend to be!…One day, my time will come too. Nevertheless, I would not mind resting in the company of true fighters rich or poor during my journey on Earth: You have showed me that both can be respected and for this too, I am extremely grateful to you, Mom!

With love,

Your oldest son, Marc-Eddy Lajoie: Pour toi,

Simplement, Maki!