Re "Writing my father's obituary with him revealed a man I never knew" (Ideas, Sept. 8): Mark Shanahan's poignant piece on what he learned as he became his father's conversation partner punctuates a point I make with friends frequently.

My mother and father died when I was in my mid-20s. I did not have the chance to have a truly adult conversation with them. I yearn for the knowledge I missed and the chance to understand why they were who they were.