Dear Patti,
We last spoke on Mother’s Day after Reggie and I had brunch with some friends at our church. You sounded happy and wished me a beautiful Mother’s Day, as Remington sat in the backseat ready for a nap. I told you that I loved you, and that we would chat again soon. I didn’t know that would be the last time I would speak to you. I don’t want for this to be a really sad letter, because neither of us would like that! Instead, I would like to tell you how thankful I am to be your daughter-in-law. I remember meeting you for the first time in the Spring of 2004. You greeted me with a smile and a warm hug as we arrived at your door at 3am after driving straight through from Indiana. You welcomed me and told me to make myself at home. Your home was filled with art, collections of books and beautiful shells, and odds and ends that you found when “junking.” I loved going through old family photos of you and Reggie – he was such an adorable baby boy! Those photos of the two of you on the beach will always be some of my favorites!
I am so incredibly lucky to have found your son, Reggie. I love him so very much, and I couldn’t have asked for a better man to be my husband and best friend. He is loving, generous, creative, driven, hard-working. He learned so much from you. Because of your encouragement, he is achieving his dreams. And he never stops dreaming. I love that about him! I hope that I can be that kind of example to my own son.
I promise to love our family with all my heart.
I will always love you and miss you.
Stephanie
P.S. Thank you for believing in me. And for always having chocolates around for my sweet tooth.
My mother-in-law, Patti, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer on her 74th birthday in November 2009. After a courageous fight, she passed peacefully Tuesday morning with her two sons at her side.
