Some sad news to share…

Hi everyone, I begin this post with some sad news for all those who take a few minutes to read this blog and my words. I am also taking a short pause in posting for a little while. To find out the answers to these, please press the button below…

Well, here goes.

So, I think I mentioned in my July posts that my father had a surgery scheduled. Despite the efforts of the amazing team of doctors and medical staff at the hospital my father unfortunately didn’t make it through and passed away peacefully. My family and I had been sort of expecting it to happen, but it all came as a bit of a shock even though we let him go. This was my first time being on the side of arranging a funeral, calling family and friends,  and organising relevant religious activities while trying to process my grief. I was quite grateful for my brother and his family, and especially for my sister who came from England to help us with almost everything. This post isn’t one where I share everything that transpired over those days but more of one where I farewell the great man my father was. I think I have written quite a bit about him before and all that he has endured but this time round although he persevered as much as he could, showing the courage that he always had, he decided on his own terms that it was time to let go. As a family we somehow found the courage to allow him to get that strength and move on to his next great adventure. My father wouldn’t want me to get too emotional and go off on a tangent, he’d make me focus on what’s important. So with that I’m allowing the collage of images from my dad’s life to do the talking for me.

My father had sacrificed quite a lot to ensure the future we enjoy today as a family. For a man who was slight in stature and at times soft-spoken, my father was a giant of a man in many other ways and had compassion for all and was never afraid to speak his mind!! In those first years in New Zealand, even as he found his feet in posts to further his career, it was the connections he made with new friends and renewed older ones that he treasured more. His participation over the years with the Sri Lankan organisations and the Buddhist temples in Auckland, the people he met and impacted were realised by the sheer number of people who called or came to our place before, during and after the funeral. To say there were almost five hundred would be an understatement as I think there were more logging in from overseas to view the live video that was streamed on the day!! Yes, my dad always wanted to go out with a bang and boy did he get one massive and magnificent send-off!! 

It’s been a few weeks now and mum’s little house feels a bit quieter, even if his things still take up half of the house!! The grandkids next door do make up for it but the hours they’re in school are a bit difficult for both of us. I’m hoping my mother will come through her grief and find a way forward. Me, I’m going to have to rethink my life’s direction. It sometimes feels as if I’m missing my rudder as my father had a huge impact on which way I was headed. I suppose I’ll have to figure out a lot of things by myself now and forge my own way forward. In my speech at the funeral, I said that my dad had taught me how to get up after I’ve fallen down or failed at something. It’s probably time I find a way to live a life to the best of my ability without him by my side but with all of the life lessons he has taught us all, guiding me and my family forward. 

I must add now that I’m taking a short break from posting for some weeks so I can help mum get organised into her new life and we can grieve together. I hope to see you all by October at least. I’ll keep reading as I do have a stack of books waiting for me at work.

Stay safe and keep reading

Miss Mahee