Michaela Foster Marsh - Starchild

This book is dedicated to my brother

Frankie Marsh

Introduction

I ts Christmas, 1993. Im unexpectedly offered a paid three-week vacation back home to Scotland over the holidays. Considering Im living in Ottawa, Canada and havent been home in three years, I dont hesitate. I cant believe my luck and neither can my family.

My brother Frankie and I often went out together in Glasgow in our late teens and early twenties. Being home for the Christmas holidays is a real reason to celebrate. A lot of new bars and clubs have opened in Glasgow since Ive been away and Frankie seems hell-bent on his sister seeing them all. But there is one night in particular I will never forget.

Were sitting together at a round metal table. The new bars busy and noisy. Frankie has a beer in his hand. I have a vodka and coke. He starts singing along to the song playing in the background. Its a jazz funk song and he moves along to the funky beat of the music as he always does, laughing his infectious laugh. Suddenly he stops singing and looks at me with half-glazed eyes, shouting above the music, If anything ever happens to me, I want this song played at my funeral. Its brilliant. The lyrics are just amazing.

I laugh. Dont be ridiculous. Thats just the drink talking.

Just promise me, if anything ever happens, youll play this song. Its called Starchild by Level 42.

Yeah, okay but youre drunk. Nothings going to happen to you.

I know, but just in case. He raises his beer to me. Cheers on it.

We clink glasses and he smiles one of his big huge smiles, his white teeth flashing against his black African skin.

Just over six weeks later, on February 26, 1994, my adopted Ugandan brother Frankie died in an accidental fire in his flat in Glasgow. He was twenty-seven years old.

Starchild

When I was an infant in my mothers arms
I would watch the starlight in her face

Cause I was reaching out to understand the cosmic charm
I am just a Starchild born in space
Way up high above the sky, all that beauty passes by
Whole worlds still unknown
And out beyond the blue, theres a place for people too
Its time for us to go
I have seen the sun shine bright in paradise
I have been there, I have seen it

Everywhere space people stare through ageless eyes
I have seen them, I believe it
Way up high above the sky, all that beauty passes by
Whole worlds still unknown
And out beyond the blue, theres a place for people too

Its time for us to go

We have time

(in my dreams)

Time and space
while were young

(floating free)

We can chase to the stars

Searching for the magic in the universe

Guided by the stars that light my way

I have seen the sun shine bright in paradise

I am just a Starchild born in space

If you want to go with me Ill take you there
Ive been shown these secrets face to face
I have seen the sun shine bright in paradise
I am just a Starchild born in space

Lyrics Philip Gould, Wally Badarou, and Mark King,

used by permission

This book is about the remarkable journey of finding my adopted brothers family in Uganda, eighteen years after his death, and how I discovered the magic in the universe. The unexpected twists and turns and remarkable coincidences that happened to me were deeply emotional and magical. On this soul-searching journey, I discovered as much about myself as I did my brothers family.

I know now that there is a continuous thread that connects us, even after death. Loss in life is real, as is the agony that follows that loss. Everyone has a story. Our lives are shaped by where and who we come from. In life, there can be massive successes, failures, losses, heartaches, loves and deaths. The draw is unique to each person, as is how they respond and the ways in which they have to find within themselves their resilience and sheer determination to survive. Ive learned self-pity is perhaps the worst enemy in life. It doesnt matter where in the world you come from, or how privileged or oppressed you are, this journey showed me that life is about strength of spirit and the remarkable ability to heal, transform and transcend. I believe, if we ask, help is sent, but it is in response to our actions and faith that we are being listened to. I have come to appreciate the invisible world within me and around meto appreciate my blessings and the divine cosmic nudges that are always present. I have learned the smallest act of kindness can never be underestimated for the person giving and the person receiving, and it has the power to resonate long after a person has gone.