Love Letters

November 24, 2020

Dear Mark,

I am still processing the fact that you have left. In many ways it is still not real. I miss you. I have re-read every letter you wrote to me and every letter I wrote to you when you were away. You are the only child of mine who has read things straight from my heart. You were a captive audience I guess, but you told me you looked forward to getting my letters and I looked forward to yours.

You read about my love for you, my hopes for you, my faith in you. You read about my love for Louie, Jill, Diana, Jasmine, Violet and Roger. You read about my Faith, your Faith and the love and forgiveness of Jesus. You read about my travels, my volunteer work, Saints and my love for the Church and Jesus' Mom, Mary. You read letter after letter of mine encouraging, nagging and lecturing you to do your best, stay positive, make your plans for the future and to always include God in them. I told you about when you were born, how you were named and all about my own car accident that happened before you were even born. I kept you up to date on the things you liked and places you went as a kid - when Harry's Hoffbrau closed, the Skatepark in Santa Cruz being taken down and replaced with an Ocean museum and other memories. You knew a lot of things in my life and your own history because I told you about them and I'm glad I did.

Oh Mark, how I will miss you. I am flooded with memories. I love you forever, son. Rest now in peace and like I always told you, God will take care of our family and now, I'm asking Him to take care of you. To have mercy on your soul and ours. Rest son, rest. Mom loves you.