My parents taught me many great lessons

My parents were wonderful. I am grateful to be born to them. My father was a general practicing medical doctor, and my mother was a college-educated accountant. They educated my sister and me by having us experience life through travel, art, music, history and science. We had the most interesting family dinners on Sundays with their friends from different walks of life. Often, they would have us share what books we were reading in school. This interchange with them and their friends allowed us to explore the many facets of the world that we might otherwise never know. We were fortunate to know and be included in their circle. We always felt valued.

I learned from them that their respect and kindness created relationships that lasted for the ages. In essence, they taught us that “other people matter” by not lecturing us. They did this by modeling how they treated others. What a gift this was.

There was much affection that we enjoyed sharing with each other, and we learned to express ourselves without overstepping boundaries. My parents were fun to be with, and we did all that we could to be with them whenever we could. Because my father was a doctor, we snatched time with him in creative ways. We would go on house calls while waiting in the car. There were many Saturdays when we had lunch after his office hours. My mother would pick us up at school and stop at the bakery for fresh hot donuts. They didn’t last very long.

The one thing my parents taught us was that everybody has dignity and worth. We were placed on this earth to do good and serve others. To do otherwise would be unthinkable. We also learned how to be fair. My sister and I lost our parents way too soon, but they are still with us through our experiences, and because of this I thank them every day.

Donna Hedges said, “Having a place to go is a home. Having someone to love is a family. Having both is a blessing.” We have been blessed.

— Joseph La Camera, Boulder