To My Parents, With Love.

I've unsucessfully been trying to do a piece on my mother who passed away last August as a result of chronic congestive heart failure. After many, frustrating attempts I realized that I can't write about my mom without also talking about the loss of my father which occurred three years earlier. For my entire life my parents had always been a matched set and even after my dad died his spirit was still there, with mom and the rest of us, embracing and comforting us with his usual strength of character, sense of humor, and love. Together my parents guided, shaped, and otherwise influenced my brother and me while they lived and they will continue to have that effect on us until the day we each move on. I can only hope that I leave an equally effective legacy for my own children that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

The rest of this piece I address to my parents, Charles and Margaret Parker.

Dear mom and dad;

I want you to know that you instilled a sense of honesty and integrity in your two boys and taught them to trust their instincts and hearts when dealing with life's every day ups and downs, as well as what emotional and physical crises that may occur. Those lessons have never been forgotten and have most definitely been adhered to successfully in several cases for both of us. My brother battled a Kidney disease that resulted in his needing, and receiving an organ transplant. Though successful, he will still have to keep to a stringent life style and take medications for the rest of his life. For myself; I am dealing with a permanently crippling spinal injury with the added complication of Arthritis settling into the affected area.

True, there are many who are worse off than my brother and me; and that's part of the attitude you instilled in us. We look for the good; we are grateful that things are not worse, and we strive to keep a positive perspective on every stumbling block thrown in our way. Our hearts know hope rather than despair; joy more that sadness; compassion instead of vindictiveness; and, above all, love where others might hate.

I can think of no better way to show our appreciation to you, our parents, for all that you've ever done for us, and selflessly sacrificed for us, than to continue to live our lives guided by those principals that you passed on to us. I can also think of no better tribute to your memory and I thank God for the time we had you with us in life, as you as you will continue to be with us in spirit for ever.

With respect, gratitude, and eternal love;
your son, Robert.

IN loving Memory;

Charles A. Parker - 10/14/1912 to 07/22/2001
Margaret W. Parker - 07/22/1915 to 08/11/2004