When I was 14, my dad passed away. He had worked at Waikato university for over a decade and was a significant member of the sporting community there. It was a heart attack. A few years after his death, my mum bought a tree to commemorate his life. A kahikatea tree. Planted in a family of 6 other kahikatea trees – corresponding to me, my 4 younger siblings and my mum – it stood on the university sport fields.
After three years of attending the same university my parents did, I graduated two days ago.
When missing a loved one, big moments like this always feel a bit bittersweet. Not having my dad supporting me during these life monuments can hurt.
Once the ceremony had ended, my mum went to see our dad’s tree. On the spindly kahikatea tree, was a beautiful quilted heart. My dad was there.
