Yep. My Dad would be 104 this year if he were still alive. I didn't fully know him and the depth of feeling this outwardly gruff man had within him until I was an adult myself. However, I always knew I was unconditionally loved and cared for. My parents both live on in our memories, the only place they ever will ... although they were both convinced of the Christian afterlife, they were also decent, kind, loving human beings who I owe much of my success to and who inadvertently inoculated me against the worst excesses of the fundamentalism they came to late in life.

I feel your pain. My mum died nearly 40 years ago and every time I think about her I have tears in my eyes.

Memories are gold. Hugs to you. It's so hard to lose the ones who love us so unconditionally.

My dad died during an operation back in 1995 at the age of 62. It was sudden and it was a shock. It took me years to get over and I still think about it a lot. My mom died 2/4/18 after being in and out of the hospital for over a year. Her passing was expected. There was a huge difference in how I processed the two. I had my mom move in with me almost a year before she passed. We said everything there was to say and I have absolutely no regrets. The same was not true with my father.

There are thousands of questions I'd like to ask him. I felt regret about not going out and flying his RC models more. (Or any number of things!) But both of my parents raised me to find my own answers... I am sure your parents did the same.

I brought home a minibike when I was 10. The engine wouldn't run. My mom was adamantly opposed to me having it. My dad worked it out that if I could fix it all by myself... I could have it. I took that engine apart down to the last nut and screw. After most of a Saturdaay taking the engine apart... When I saw the bent valve roll across the table top... I knew that was it. I still remember taking that valve upstairs and rolling it across the kitchen table in front of my dad... He just smiled real big and said he would help show me how to lap a valve and then I needed to put it all back together. I ran the snot out of that thing for years... Until I bought a motorcycle that had major wiring issues. Fixed that too!

I still remember my dad's smile that day and that was 47 years ago or so. Whenever I have a victory in life... No matter what it is... But usually a project that requires thought or an unusual fix... I always think back to that day... And then smile the same way my dad did!

The memories are what keep us close to those who we have lost. Sending you hugs.