last weekend

tom and candee

came to

los angeles for

a short visit.

and i watched

(in amazement)

as they continued

their support for

the life i’ve

made for maddy

and me since

the death of their daughter…

they’re heavily involved

with the foundation

i started in

liz’s

name.

they excitedly ask

about everything that’s

happening with

my book.

and they support

my relationship with

brooke in ways

i never could

have imagined,

(they had 8 huge bags of cheese curds shipped to us from wisconsin, and donned green bay packers shirts to help her cheer on brooke’s favorite team, something utterly unthinkable for a couple of vikings fans).

after almost three

years of this kind

of support,

i have to remind

myself that none

of this was a

given after

liz

died.

they could have

walked away from

madeline and me

at any time.

but they didn’t.

they’ve been

here for us

in every possible way.

and all of

our lives

are better because

of it.