Dear Rod:

I was touched by this letter from our daughter in the USA:

“We tend to take parents for granted. You have always been available to the four of us. It is only in moments of sudden clarity that we say to ourselves, ‘Wow, I would not be where I am today if it were not for mom and dad and all they did for me’. We are who we are because you are decent, hard-working, caring, honorable, wonderful people. Hopefully we are a little of those things as well. There were times growing up that were less than perfect but that is part of growing up. I don’t believe it is possible as a parent not to make a few ‘mistakes’ along the way. It is up to the children to decide what we are going to do with the difficult times, which make us stronger, more understanding, and more empathetic humans. Your mistakes were few and far between. I am sure we will never know the full scope of everything you sacrificed for us. I know I was able to pursue a career because of you and dad. I know that my sense of honesty and level-headedness is due to you. I hope that I can make you proud.”

(Edited)