It’s five years since your passing, but vivid are the memories

I set six places at the table for our traditional breakfast on January 1, just like I have done every year. It’s only when we all sit down that realisation dawns… I have set a place for you, again. It’s been five years since you left us Dada, sometimes it feels like it’s been forever, but at times like this it feels like only yesterday that you were sitting at the Christmas or New Year table with us, telling us we’ve got too much food but then insisting on trying one of each item and maybe a couple of extra kokis too.

Losing you is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. You are in my thoughts every day, and I still unconsciously pick up the phone to call you when I’ve got good news to share or when I need help with solving an issue. You’d think it gets easier each year or that memories fade away, but that’s not really what happens. It feels like every year that goes by makes the memories of the happy moments all the more vivid. Life isn’t all rosy and no one knew that better than you, but the memories of how you faced every challenge that life cast your way with positivity, grit and determination to make things better will never fade. You had a way with words, but your actions always spoke louder than words, and the countless number of people whose lives you impacted by helping them with education opportunities, employment and just simply showing concern for their well- being will testify to this.

The last five years have seen the sadness and grief turn to sheer gratefulness for the fact that we had you in our lives for as long we did, and thankfulness for the motivation you gave us to live our lives to the fullest no matter what obstacles came our way and to focus on helping others as much as we possibly could. I’m not one for sending my thoughts out into the public domain, but I felt I needed to do this for you. I know you’re watching over us from heaven and I hope you know how grateful and blessed we feel to have been a part of your inspirational journey here.

Love you always.

Natasha Benedict