End of an era

Who could have imagined that tonight I would be sitting in Antwerp at Di's table writing, sitting after eating some good old kiwi comfort food after a long flight. A lamb roast is such a kiwi icon. Of course I just enjoyed the veges but yum. It's all been a bit of a blur but I knew I needed whanau (family) and I knew the closest in all ways was Di.

My father passed away on Thursday September 11 at 10.30am NZ time. I had been waiting for the call, it came at 4am UAE time. I was relieved that his turn had come, as I knew he would be from all our recent conversations. It was so difficult to see the strong man, the rock of the family, in such a sorry state. Cancer had ravaged his body and left him a shell of his former self, an upsetting sight to say goodbye to when I left in mid August. The doctor said 4-6 weeks then, he was right.

Di captured how he was to her, for me that's still requiring reflection. All I knew was that the whanau had gathered and I was alone and in need of whanau who knew and understood. Di was the one. Sue, Rau and Mary-Anne swung into action and here I am. How important good friends are at times like this, good friends and family.