13 May, 2011
Papa,
Today, 13th May, would have been your 67th birthday. We have planted a beautiful magnolia tree in our back garden in your honour – it is only small, but I’m hoping that in a few years it will grow wide and high, and will flower a peppering of pink in May in your remembrance. Whilst munching on some cake we reminisced and pondered over your eventful and fascinating life, and joked with fondness about how much you used to like cake, and how quickly you were to help yourself to a slice – whatever the flavour! There are many things I’ll miss about you, papa. The small memories and times we shared – the occasional (and often quite competitive!) game of tennis, going for a swim together in the local public swimming pool, and for a soak in the sauna followed by an icy cold shower and plenty of yelling ‘ayayayaaaaaayy!!!’ Your loud voice and cheesy smile as you greeted ‘holi holi holi!’, our long discussions together, often sharing thoughts about history, current affairs, anecdotes and listening to your latest thoughts and experiences which I was always so captivated by. I miss you, papa, but at least you left us doing something you loved and in a way that was somehow in keeping with your spirit – sudden, unexpected and in the mountains, living life to the full.
Love, Maya