To Mom and Dad....

I wrote this to my folks for an album we gave to them this past weekend. They have been together for 40 years.

To Mom and Dad,

Without the both of you I would not be alive here writing this letter. I love you both more than you can possibly imagine. Its hard to believe that I am actually sitting here writing a letter to you on your 40th wedding anniversary. The purpose of your life since my birth has been nothing but to provide for my every need and give me all the love, care and guidance in the world. For that I love you and thank you with all my heart.

Both of you have been model parents to me and should be listed as the number one entry in Webster’s dictionary under “patience.” I think of all the achievements and failures that have happened in my life, (that are too numerous to mention), and you have stood by me through it all. I have always tried to do the best I could to be the best person possible and do what I can to be a good son.

There have been so many times that you both have gone more than out of your way for me as parents and I have absolutely no way to repay you. I think of how you gave me opportunities to learn and experience so many things. From the hours and hours of homework and stress you have had to endure with me over the years, to the trips to various destinations throughout the country have molded, shaped and benefited my life.

Mom, you have always been there when I have needed you. Helping me struggle through reports and helped me stay focused when my A.D.D. took over. Whenever you packed my lunch or left me a note when I was a kid there always was a little piece of you that went with it every day. The fact that you took the time to do something special for me always made me get through some of the toughest days I had when I was growing up. You have always made me feel so special and adored.

I remember when we lived in Seattle I was the only kid on the block that got the G.I. Joe Hovercraft for Christmas and I still am trying to figure out how you and Santa pulled that one off! I have always been a different child as most artists and creative people are. There are about half a million things you did for me that I am sure I will never know about to this day, but I love you and thank you for every one of them. There are so many wonderful experiences you have given me through the course of my life. I love you. You are my savior and my conscience.

Dad, you always know how to make me smile. Your laughter and smile is infectious and your sense of humor has been one of your greatest gifts to me. You always went out of your way to help me with math, science and chemistry even though I knew it was difficult for me to understand at times, and I am sure it was just as difficult for you! I will always love the way you would help me without question. When I was little you made a base for my star wars figures out of the Styrofoam casing for an electron microscope which is still one of the most creative and wonderfully imaginative things you did for me as a kid. It made me feel very special that my dad would make time to do things for me although I know you were supporting all of us.

You even took me to Gettysburg when I had to do a civil war report and me to produce a document that should be on display at the Smithsonian. It was such an incredible time that we spent along with all of those awesome hunting trips to the eastern shore. I will never forget when you bought a Vision skateboard for me that was seriously way to expensive, but you bought it for me anyway. I think I slept with it that night as if it were a red rider b-b gun. You are the coolest dad in the whole world. You will always be my source of strength and my hero. Without your love patience and compassion I would be nothing.

Mom and Dad, both of you have taught me to be kind gentle and good to others, and to be the best person I can be. I hope that I can be as good a parent to my daughter and pass on the values and morals that you have instilled in me. I will do my very best to provide for her and give her all the love and encouragement in the entire world and be her superdad.

The both of you deserve all the happiness in the world and I hope that you are proud of me as your son. I am part of the best family in the entire world and it is all thanks to the unending love that the both of you have given to us. I wish you a very happy anniversary and I love you with all my heart. May the next 40 years of your lives be full of love and happiness.

Regards,
(Jake) James William Richtsmeier

P.S.
May the force be with you. Always.