Dear Abby: Quite some time ago, you published a letter from someone who had lost his mother or father and had failed to communicate his love to them. Then it was too late.
I want you to know that I benefited from that letter and your response. Recently, I lost my mother. She was only 69 and died of a heart attack. She was such a sweetheart. Thanks to you, my sadness was not due to guilt, because for the last 10 or 12 years of her life I telephoned her regularly, wrote letters and remembered her on special occasions. I visited her every three months although it was a 13-hour drive.
While I feel that I would have tried to be a good son, your column reminded me that we are on this Earth such a short time, and after someone dies, it`s too late to say, ”I love you.” Thank you.
If you want to use this letter, you may use my name.
Thomas T. Menear, Atlanta
Dear Mr. Menear: The letter that made a difference in your life is one that has been clipped and carried in more wallets than any other. And here it is:
Dear Abby: I am the most brokenhearted person in the world. I could always find the time to go everywhere else, but never time to visit Mom and Dad. They sat at home and loved me just the same. It`s too late now to give them those few hours of happiness I was too selfish and busy to give.
Now when I go to their graves and see the green grass above them, I wonder if God will ever forgive me for the heartaches I must have caused them while they were alive. I pray to God that those who still have their parents to visit, do so, and show their love and respect while there is still time, for it`s later than you think.
Too Late
Dear Abby: The letter about the toddler who fell into a five-gallon bucket of water and drowned while his mother ran to answer the telephone prompts this letter. Actually, I want to address two separate, but related issues.
No. 1: The ridiculous belief that when a telephone rings, you have to run to answer it! I am a physician, and I`ve had a number of people come to my office due to injuries they have received when they tripped and fell while running to answer the telephone. I say, if the phone rings while you`re busy, let the blasted thing ring-if it`s really important, the party will call back. The other issue: Many lives could be saved if everyone-including housewives-knew how to do CPR. One never knows when a friend or family member will black out or have a heart attack. Most American Red Cross chapters offer excellent courses for home and workplace emergency care.
Dr. Max Wren, Mc Alister, Okla.
Dear Dr. Wren: (I am not going to say you`re for the birds.) Thanks for a fine and ever timely letter.
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To get Abby`s booklet ”How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send a long, business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.)
