Dear Burt,

You gave me a full happy life.

We were lucky to find each other. Lucky, or destined?

I’m not sure if either luck or fate belong in modern life. Or love.

It was my joy and an honor to be with you each and every one of those nearly 35 years.

Did we have disagreements? Of course we did. We argued like any normal neurotics in a relationship. Life is complicated. As is love.

Did we have difficulties? I consider the sad slide into LBD a major difficulty. I don’t say that to be glib, but to be realistic.

Tonight, I found a small treasure trove of once deleted voice mail messages in a backup file. It was wonderful to hear your voice again. I laughed, I cried. I saved them to a Samsung Music playlist so I will be able to hear your voice again and again.

I am so proud to have been with you during all those years; it was a privilege to be by your side, not just in the before when it was easy, but also over the roughest terrain.

Know that you acted with the utmost dignity and bravery under very difficult circumstances.

I had the good fortune to love you and know that I was always loved by you in return.

As I frequently told you, I love you, Burt. That remains in the present tense.

You will always have a home deep in my heart.

We shared a profound journey.

Thank you.