Dear Anita, my beloved wife, and the best friend I have had the privilege to possess:

I have just read the wonderful birthday tributes that were sent to you from Jeanette, Carolyn, Claudia and Tracy. They enumerate all of your wonderful qualities--Your great sense of humor--your love of the doggie world--your loving devotion to our 5 children, their spouses and 10 beautiful grandchildren--your numerous close friends that all loved you and enjoyed being with you in person and on the phone--and your "generosity, strength and spirit," as Tracy so aptly wrote to you.

I recall the large amount of birthday greeting cards you would receive in the mail each year. It seemed that when they were arranged on the fire place mantel, it would groan from the heavy weight it was supporting. (On my birthday, six weeks later, I would only get a few cards, mostly from all of the family, I would then place them wide open on the mantel to double their appearance.)

Earlier this year, one of our daughters told me that you said that in all of our 54 years of marriage, I never made you cry! I was very impressed with myself and told you about it. You replied, "That is because I do not fight." I now realize that you were the peacemaker of the family which contributed to our marriage longevity.

Dear Anita, We all love you and miss you sorely. Life for us goes on and we can be greatly encouraged that there is a better place for us where you are. You are now happily living with your past family and friends and we know that all of you are waiting to welcome us.

Happy Earthly Birthday, March 21; Happy Heavenly Birthday March 8, now that you are a 1 year old.

Love, and longing for you,

Roland.