Dinner for Kent

Dinner for Kent                               

Saturday 21st September

Kent’s 37th Birthday

Hi everyone,

As always, I have a few things to say, but thought writing rather than talking tonight would be a lot easier. Thanks for coming. I hope we have a nice time. They say this idea is hard at first, but it gets a little easier over the years, and that it is good to gather together to remember/celebrate/mourn.

Do swap seats over the evening if you would like to, and come round and say hi. I may have to race off quickly with Reuben and Esther after 7.15 and probably won’t manage 35 goodbyes, so hope to catch up with you during dinner. I hope you’ll also find an opportunity to talk with each other about Kent.

We talk about him often at home and Reuben still seems to have some memories of him. I hope that we can all teach them more about Kent as they grow older. Words can’t say how hard it is (though I do try! Thank you those of you who read my stuff) but I miss him so much that my bones ache, and wonder how to do life without him, though we seem to be doing it anyway.

Kent’s headstone is now in place at Whenua Tapu. I’d love you to go and see it sometime.

You have found a place in my heart, and so that place is yours.

It will fly your flag, speak your language, and honour you with festive parades forever.

(- unknown)