Dear Dad, It's been 20 years today since you, too, left us. Such a shock. First Mom, then you--gone six days later. The speculation. Months later, I watched a video you took of Mom and yourself on a trip. You could hardly catch your breath to speak. You were slowly drowning, dying yourself, but you kept on. To take care of Mom until the end. I wish I could hit the reset button with us. Get a do-over. We tapped maple trees together. You taught me to fish, to grow plan

Dear Mom, It was 20 years ago today that you left us, and since then there have been maybe two days that I haven’t thought of you. Your actions, viewpoints, sayings, and beauty pervade my mind. You stood up for me when I didn’t have the power or courage. You taught me empathy and compassion. You taught me to reason. With each passing year, your absence deepens. I was in California when I found out you were gone. I cried all the way to the airport. I cried so much t