DEAR ABBY: "Indebted to Them, Lakewood, Calif." was contrite about how she had treated her mother and stepfather. She asked if she should say something to apologize, and to thank them for putting up with her behavior.
Some time ago, you suggested that children write a letter to their parents saying how much they loved them and thanking them for all they had done. I not only took your advice -- I went further by writing letters to my in-laws from my first marriage, and also my present in-laws.
After my parents died, we found they had saved my letter. My father-in-law has shown the one I sent him to everyone in his rather large family. He is very proud of it.
In the letters, I thanked each of them for their gifts, tangible and intangible, and asked them to forgive my shortcomings. In the case of my in-laws, I thanked them for their daughter -- "a gift I will always treasure."
Abby, please suggest that "Indebted" put her feelings in writing so folks will have something to cherish for the rest of their lives. -- TOM COLLIMORE, SAN MARCOS, CALIF.
DEAR TOM: Thank you for the reminder. For years I have urged readers who are fortunate enough to have their parents (or even one parent) to whom they can give such a priceless gift, to write a letter expressing their love and gratitude for the countless things a parent must do to raise a child. Such a letter is sure to become a treasured keepsake.