Heading into Christmas, Rodney Coleman is surrounded by love, and has plenty of thanks for all those who have wrapped their arms around him since his great love Peter Taylor died. Rodney holds Peter's hand at the This Is Your Life celebration, just weeks before Peter passed away. Rodney writes: It has been an "interesting" last three months since Pete passed away to say the least, not always easy but have had so much support and thank god Pete was so organised so not have that stress as well but there has not been a day when I have not thought of him. On Saturday Pete’s family and I will plant his tree (with the ashes under) in a private ceremony up north at his aunty’s bach by the sea. In time there will be a hot pink hibiscus for us to visit. Despite the fact it has been a very long and hard year with the experiment to control the Leishmaniasis failing in Feb that "cooked" Pete’s system and his ongoing failing health leading though to his decision to stop treatment, I have counted myself as a very lucky man. For starters I met Pete and he took me places that I would have never gone by myself. He encouraged and guided me as he had for so many others. It was not always an easy time but I would not have missed a second of it. I was lucky to have met him. I have had the support and love not just after his passing but all during the year of so many people, My family, his family, The Dots Family, all of his and mine friends and the wider community. Special thanks to both GayNZ.com and Express for the wonderful articles you did on Pete and the support you have shown. To Karen Richie and the Cartier trust for the This is Your Life night and for phoning so often to check I was ok. To Paul, Allan and all Urge's patrons for their support and continued love. Campbell and the fabulous ladies at Caluzzi for being there. To everyone who emailed, texted or Facebooked Pete in the final days with messages of love and respect. I read each one to Pete. It was a special time for us both. Mostly to the "Dots" Family who have been there every step of the way. The Dot's Family are off to Vinegar Hill over Christmas and New Year’s so will be a great way to end the year and to start off the next one. Next year I am thinking of heading overseas as have only been to Australia a couple of times and have not done the big OE but an thinking of doing Europe in summer on a motorbike. Guess the only other thing I would like to say is to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and the Hope that the New Year brings them all the Joy that they could wish for. Because as Pete would say "Don't Postpone Joy". Cheers Rodney xx GayNZ.com Daily News staff - 20th December 2013
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 20th December 2013 - 10:25am