You know this all too well since you have lost your parents, especially your dear mom last year. Thank you for sharing all that and my condolences to you and your family on her passing. She was an INCREDIBLE woman since she raised an INCREDIBLE son!

I only hope and pray that your daughters will remember her since they are so young. (I never knew a grandfather since he died when my mom was only 14 and have always felt the pain and sadness of that and look forward to FINALLY seeing him in Heaven someday.)

Take care, Mike, and God Bless! Vic Lipari

My mother died the following day and though it was a PAIN LIKE NO OTHER IN MY LIFE to lose her, I was relieved to know that she would NEVER suffer again and went to Heaven! I was there as she passed and was holding her hand as she took her last breath. (She firmly squeezed my hand and then she passed. What symbolism, like she wanted to hold on to life and me for one final time!) (TO BE CONTINUED)

I enjoy every one of your most inspirational and thought-provoking talks online but this one really hit home for me in many ways. (Glad I was able to finally hear it since there was a technical problem last week with the audio part and I could not download the message for some strange reason. I alerted you to this with my e-mail to you and happy the problem was fixed.)

Yes, in our culture, men are ‘programmed’ NOT to cry as it shows weakness but I have always thought that that was a bunch of baloney! I am not afraid to show emotion and shed a tear or two if I feel like it like watching an emotional movie or tv show or attending a funeral or memorial service.

I REALLY cried at my mother’s deathbed in the hospital in 2007 shortly after the doctor told us that my mother’s cancer was terminal and death was imminent in a day or within the week. My mother—her face yellowish from jaundice since her kidneys and liver had shut down—smiled at me with a look of peace and even though she could no longer talk, THAT MOMENT said alot to me!! I was overcome with a tsunami of grief and sat down on the chair and CRIED for what seemed like at least five minutes or more! I had not cried like that since I was a kid and I was VERY embarrassed but I could not hold back my grief. My sister was the only one in the room and she comforted me. (Glad that no other family was around but I covered my mouth and face to muffle my sobbing.) My mother looked at us and seemed VERY concerned like she knew something was very wrong by hearing my crying. My sister reassured her that I would be ok. (TO BE CONTINUED)