Texts Keep Memories of Dad — and the Pain of His Loss — Alive

I finally brought myself to look back through the text messages sent to me by my dad. He passed away in October, nine days shy of his 66th birthday. To say it's been difficult is an understatement. All the firsts have been struggles -- the first Halloween not trick-or-treating at his house, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter. With Father's Day fast approaching, I have days when it takes all my strength to pull myself out of bed, go to work and pick up the kids from school. Then, I just spend the rest of the day in bed.

As I was scrolling through the text messages, I came across the one he sent me for Mother's Day last year and I lost it ...