I refuse to think of you as Robert says you’ve become: frail, silent and struggling to breathe, lying on a hospital bed surrounded by warm hearts and cold machines.

In between tears running down my cheeks, I will still remember you, the way you were the first time I met you at our wedding. You were brilliant and beautiful and kind, dancing the night away in your purple velvet dress. Your silver hair softly framed your pretty face and your blue green eyes were shinning with delight. Did you know you were stunning that night? All my family loved you right away. My Mom turned to me and whispered that you were so graceful just like a queen.

I remember you took my hands and danced with me when they were playing Sting’s Fields of Gold. You said you had never seen your son so happy and that you loved me for that and so much more.

In the past four years since that night, I have tried to be a good daughter and a good wife. I know you loved the flowers, the emails, the gifts and the calls. I am so grateful to you for bringing Robert to life. I love him with all my heart.

Do I have any regrets; yes of course. I know you wanted us to come and visit and we promised we would. You wanted to show us the beauty of Montana, all the amazing sights and spend time with us at your home. I really wanted to come, I hope you know. We never got around to it and I am sorry for not pushing Robert more. He is stubborn just like you, but I hope you know he is now there for you. He wrote about you on his blog and I hope you know that there are so many people who love you, pray for you and wish you well.

I have an email from you here from three weeks ago. You said you were done with your store and you were going to take time off and travel around the west coast. You said to call you soon. You asked when we will be coming to visit. I wonder if you knew about what was going to come. I am sorry I never returned your call.

I am coming over tonight, will you be there for me to say goodbye? Or will you be dancing the night away to the tune of Fields of Gold? Will you be dancing your way to heavens and leaving us forevermore? Wherever you are, please know that I love you with all my heart and soul. And I'll be taking care of your son and grandson for you, now even more than before. Happy dancing sweet Maria, may the heavens be your dancing floor.