Hey Annie,
It’s me, your old friend Lainie-Lou. I’m devastated, confused and so very sad about the way you left. I can only imagine a pain too great to prompt such an exit. I want you to know that I will always hold dear the memories of our time together. They’re important and special. We met in the 90’s, and you were the It Girl on a skyrocketing trajectory. Your beauty was gamine and fairylike, and your energy bold beyond measure. You were the first actress to retain me as a personal makeup artist, which was such an honor and very exciting. We did six feature films together, traveled a ton and had so much fun. Being around your uninhibited kookiness and sharp intellect always put me at ease. We talked endlessly about everything, laughed and cried over cocktails and cigarettes. I marveled at your incredible acting abilities on every job we did….Physical comedy to heartbreaking drama. You were capable of absolutely anything, and you knew it. When controversy and chaos ensued in the name of love, I tried to be your rock from which you could tether during that tumultuous time. I’ll never forget the impromptu healing you did on a coworker in crisis in front of an entire film crew. It was mysterious, and then curative, and cameras rolled again shortly thereafter. Remember the time when you stepped up on my behalf like a boss? We were on that indie out of the country. I had only been paid three of five paychecks on work completed. I confided my situation to you on the Friday before our last week. You said to me “Guess what Lainie-Lou, we’re not going to work on Monday, and you will be paid. I’m making a call.” We literally stayed in our hotel rooms that entire Monday, and I was a nervous wreck! At 6pm checks were delivered to me, including the 6th final weeks check. That’s the kind of person you were. What a delight it was to reconnect years later and to see you as a proud mom to sons Homer and Atlas. You felt grounded and happy, as so was I. We caught up and reminisced, as I painted your familiar face…blue eyes beaming up at me. It was our full circle. Celestia, you’re free of pain, and of the ether now….undoubtedly surrounding the ones you love.