My speech for Adrian

I have been asked to publish what I shared today at the graveside.

Passionate, Kind, Meticulous, Practical, a Warrior with a lovers heart. 

I fell in love with my karate instructor the moment I arrived at the dojo and for the next 23 years, this love strengthened and continues.

It was his gentleness and fierceness which first attracted and captured my heart. We built our relationship on trust, respect, genuine friendship and a huge dose of passion.  I remember when we first started to date, he bought me a bunch of flowers. I thought this romantic gesture would stop after a few weeks. But I continued to receive a bunch of flowers ever Friday afternoon for many years. It was the little attentive daily things that kept our romance alive. He wrote poetry and sent me notes and letters. Until recently, the longest we had been apart was 5 nights. Adrian was my best friend, confidante, partner and lover. He was my rock and I his.

Adrian was genuine with his emotions, but kept them in check with most of the world. He let me behind his mask and into his heart.  He thought deeply about his decisions, and once made, embodied it, lived it. There were no grey areas for him. It was only black or white.

Adrian was an incredibly articulate, intelligent man; one who shared my love of collecting weird and unusual facts and information. We have spend many a night talking until the sun came up. 

I feel so blessed to have shared the best part of 23 years with my soulmate. For fifteen years together we battled the tumour and we exceeded the original doctors prognosis of three years. We had hoped we could eventually conquer it.

One of the wedding oaths I committed to Adrian, was to love and protect him - till death do us part. But I can’t keep that oath. My love for him will continue past the grave. I continue to feel his caress on the breeze, kisses as the sunlight touches my skin. I am glad that he is free of his pain and his suffering.

Today I bury my best friend, my love, my soulmate. His flame lives on in my heart and those who loved him.