From Anthony’s dad, Pat Resti: Here is something Anthony wrote to me while in recovery. He was trying so hard at this point and this he wrote to me two months before he lost his battle and went to be with the Lord. … Thank you and God bless

Hey pops.

I guess I’ll try and reply.

Thanks for all the kind words. But any kind of insight or opinion I have is based on the things I’ve experienced in life, and for the better part of my life I’ve been by yours and mom’s side. So you can thank yourself for being a great guy.

I know I come off towards you as maybe a little vague with my words. And I’m sorry. I still sometimes think of you as more of an authoritarian instead of my father/friend which is definitely what you are.

And my previous statement about my delusional views about you, comes from me not doing the right thing and being scared to talk to you because I have nothing good to say. I’m working on it. Because I do feel good and I’m at a point where I’m questioning my future and my entire game plan for life. And I know you worry and I just think that sometimes you may sway towards a more protective stance. But that’s to be expected.

I’ve just reached a point where I need to start making decisions myself. It’s time to put up or shut up. My mind is constantly going back to a saying I heard a year or so ago and it states…a ship is always safe when it’s docked on the harbor, but that’s not what ships were made for. And I’m feeling like I’ve been in the harbor for long enough. So I’m taking the steps to, in a sense, hit the open ocean.

But I love you and I’m proud of you for how you yourself are taking the steps to change. Doing some soul work. Because after all the worldly pleasures are taken away and we are left with only ourselves, our soul and how we feel about our lives is all we have. Laura and the kids are lucky to have you and vice versa.

Love your number one fan