Dear Brandon -- 170 years ago, Alfred, Lord Tennyson finished the poem that contains his most famous quote: " 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
That's hard to believe sometimes. Because losing someone we love is so damned hard it's totally natural at first to think: "My grief is too great. What was the point? What happens now? I'll never be happy. I'll never love anyone again, that's for sure."
Well, you know what? It might have been only 1849, but Tennyson was ahead of his time. Even in his own excruciating sadness he knew how much richer we all are to have loved someone SO MUCH that imagining them NOT having been in our lives is actually WORSE than the deepest pain we feel at their absence.
Maybe your Mom and Dad were fortunate enough to already know that, or maybe it's just something that comes with time.
Of course they miss you, of course they wish you were back. But boy, do they feel lucky you were THEIRS, that you were HERE, that you had a wonderful life, and that you made a true difference. Which will continue in myriad ways -- some they may have yet to see, that will occur down the road, or in ways that THEY'LL bring about themselves.
And when they do, I have a feeling they'll know EXACTLY who inspired 'em to happen. ;-)
**** "If there's a rock and roll heaven/Well you know they've got a hell of a band/ And if there's a heavenly drummer/Well, that's Brandon with the sticks in his hand." ****