CD

Today, on this cool Winter day in Whiteriver, South Africa, we have planted 9 Camellia bushes. Our vision is that as they grow they will form a walk down from the orchard behind our house. From a distance we hope to gaze on the white, pink and red flowers. Visitors who come to the farm will see a walkway of green bushes that will be flashed with camellia colour. Erin and I have planted the Camellias after the recent death of my best friend Chris, known to me as CD. He and I met at the age of 5 on the way to school and stayed lifelong friends until his death at the age of 60 years. At this point in my grief I feel nothing good came out of his death, nothing dampens the pain of loss, emptiness and unfulfilled dreams; not Camellias, not the fine words at his funeral, or laughter in sharing his life with others.

So for the moment we have planted 9 Camellias to try and mark his life on a continent he was never able to visit. Camellias - because they were his favourite plant and flower and he had many in his garden. Camellias - because he gave one to Gail as a proposal of marriage. That is what this plant meant to him. I think we have also planted them as a reminder of the value of my best friend CD. I want to be reminded of this rare, caring, and passionate man, and of his generosity to many people. Hopefully the tears and the loss will recede and as the plants grow their lush green leaves and offer flashes of reds, pinks and whites, they will be a reminder of CD’s life and friendship.