To Parents...

I argued with my mother when I was eleven years old. It was bedtime. I don't remember why we were arguing. I was so mad at her that I said the one thing that every child says at least once to her parents, "I hate you and I wish that you were dead!" I didn't say, "I love you" or "Good night."

She died suddenly the following morning before I woke up.

I never got to say that I was sorry for what I had said, that I didn't mean it, that I loved her and good night. It's a classic case of bad timing.
-LA

Dear Mom,
There are so many things that I need to tell you and never had the chance.

I am gay. I know you asked me and I told you no, but its something that I didn't think you would be happy with. Now I know better.

I smoke. I smoked when you asked me, and still smoke now. The cigarettes in the glove box were mine. I am sorry I lied.

You are my best friend in the world. I love you more than anyone else. Thanks for always being there for me.
-Anonymous

At 14 I was blessed to have never experienced death. Most kids experience death for the first time with a grandparent. Mine was unfortunately with you - my mother. The entire time you were sick, it never actually occurred to me that you would die. I think that's why I treated you so horribly and there isn't a day that goes by now that I am not embarrassed by my behavior. You were such a selfless person, even in the end. I remember how you would curl my hair each morning before school, even when your hands were shaking because of the chemo. I also remember how I used to throw tantrums and yell at you as though I would always get another day to tell you once again that I was sorry and it would never happen again. Even after you slipped into the coma, I kept telling myself that you were going to pull through. I don't think that anything truly hit me until the day you died, when I had to sit there watching you struggle and suffer so much. I hope you could see all the people that were there. They all loved you so much. I loved you so much. You gave me everything I needed and wanted, which was more than I deserved. Thank you for that. And thank you for instilling in me the drive to succeed. You've made me into the person I am today and I hope you're proud. Don't blame yourself for leaving. You fought a good fight but even you weren't a match for cancer. Oh, and I know you were worried about Dad and I surviving together. Don't be. He's one of my best friends now. And just like he took care of me, I'll take care of him
-Caitlin Briggs

I am so glad that you were there with me for my first ultrasound after I found out that I was pregnant. After your funeral I looked through your purse and I found your copy of the ultrasound photos. I didn't know that you had carried them with you for all those months. I am sorry that you never got to meet your granddaughter.
-Anonymous

Dear Mom,
I never got to say thanks for being there for what time you could. Thanks for making me who I am. Thanks for being my blessed mother when I needed you the most. Thanks for cooking all those times and making my tummy full. I will never forget the times when we laughed, cried, and sang together in church.
-Brad Hobbs


I wish I could tell my grandmother how much she taught me about life, and how much she was an influence to all who knew her. I think about her everyday. I think about just the smallest, simplest things she would do for someone. If a visitor came to her home the first thing she would ask is if they were hungry, and then she would go fix them something to eat. She was the best cook. I dream about her fixing me something to eat.
-Christie Baker

I never got to say...that I really hated the fallout we had so many years ago. I had always meant to make peace as the years went by but before that time came I ran out of time...we ran out of time. You taught me not to take things for granted; for that and so much more, I love you, daddy. I hope you found the peace that you were looking for.
With love,
Your baby girl (Becca Thornhill)

Dear Mom,
There are so many things that I need to tell you and never had the chance.

I am gay. I know you asked me and I told you no, but its something that I didn't think you would be happy with. Now I know better.

I smoke. I smoked when you asked me, and still smoke now. The cigarettes in the glove box were mine. I am sorry I lied.

You are my best friend in the world. I love you more than anyone else. Thanks for always being there for me.
-Anonymous

I am so glad that you were there with me for my first ultrasound after I found out that I was pregnant. After your funeral I looked through your purse and I found your copy of the ultrasound photos. I didn't know that you had carried them with you for all those months. I am sorry that you never got to meet your granddaughter.
-Anonymous