Nicely written! My dad resisted all attempts at clearing the air and resolving our differences. He would never voluntarily speak to me on the phone when I called. He just hands the phone to my mother. He always answers my phone calls the same way, “Oh, it’s you, I’m busy right now, here’s your mother, I’ll talk to you next time.” This went on even when he knew he was going to die. He passed on without having to speak to me, the “I’ll talk to you next time” never became “Let’s talk now.” No one told me he was seriously ill. I only found out when I flew to New York for the funeral. I learned more about the last years of dad’s life from other people rather than dad himself in the week I spent in New York from friends and relatives. That’s how it is with men from my dad’s generation. Stubborn, stoically denying any problems exists, and projecting a falsehood that all is right in their world and that they are in control. All the way till the day they die. Regrets? Yes, I have them and I bet so does my dad wherever he is in the afterlife. Thanks for writing this piece, Michelle! I hope that your dad will somehow have a moment of truth and enlightenment to make the phone call to you to resolve things. My best regards to you!