Like many others, I enjoy the Frank Sinatra song “My Way.”

I most relate to the lines that say:

“Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.”

I searched my memory bank for the regrets I’ve had in life. But it’s true my regrets are too few to mention.

And yet, what may seem like a small regret is one that gets stronger every year.

I’m sure I may have mentioned it over the years because I’m plagued by my failure to do what I should have done before it was too late.

My failure is that I never took the time to tell my mother how astonishing I thought she was. Perhaps I could forgive myself for that oversight if it weren’t for the fact that I did tell her how special I thought my dad was. I’m sure that had to hurt her because when he left us my dad moved away and left my mother with no means of support for her and her two kids.

Without a whimper she found a cheap house to rent then fixed it up to make it habitable. She worked two jobs — in a factory during the day then as a waitress at night.

She vowed she would make sure her children never did without. We never did. But she did without plenty just so she had money to feed and clothe her kids.

It’s been 10 years since she passed away, yet my two daughters and I still talk about her skills and her mental strength. What she did best was to take care of her children, putting them first in life.

When I’m going through a rough time all I do is think about the way my mother coped with her pain and solved every problem.

Then I remind myself I have her blood running through my veins so I will be fine. And I am.

What I never did was to tell my mother any of this.

I never told her she was masterful in the way she could turn a shack into a nice place to live or how she could come home from work and whip up the most delicious meals while still on a budget.

She never heard words of love growing up, and at first she demonstrated her love for us but didn’t verbally express it until I mentioned it was important to hear those words of love, too.

While I did a good job telling my mom that I loved her I failed to tell her why.

I never told her how special she was as a mother.

When we love someone it’s natural that we tell the why. My big regret is not telling my mom why she was special.

I have had serious conversations with both men and woman, asking if they tell their parents why they admire them.

“We don’t talk that way,” said one guy, but he went on to elaborate the why of his love for his parents.

Unfortunately, like me, he never told them why while they were still here.

If you want to do something meaningful for those you love, just don’t tell say I love you. Tell them why.

If you feel awkward saying it, write it on a card. That way they can see it whenever they need a pick-me-up.

It wasn’t just with my mother that I failed to say why. I had the most incredible aunts who added so much joy to my life.

They were always there for me and always made me feel special. I’m sure that much of my self-esteem was because of my aunts.

Thinking about my aunts makes me recall another regret. I didn’t realize how little time we have with the special people in my life.

I always claimed to know that time was short. Too short.

I said the words but I didn’t truly take it to heart.

I bounced from one glorious family event to another, feeling the joy of a close-knit family.

Never did I stop to realize that the family that made every event special would disappear one by one until they were all gone.

When my Aunt Rose died we were all heartbroken. Before and after, I never cried so hard in my life. She was more than my favorite aunt. She was my inspiration.

I always said my goal in life was to be just like my Aunt Rose, who helped so many people. She was one of a kind, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t begin to live up to her legacy.

When we gathered in church for a final goodbye our family filled many pews.

Yet, all too soon there were fewer of us until we the “kids” in the family were now the matriarchs.

Age teaches us the truth behind the words “too soon gone.”

All we can do is to make the most of every single day, not wasting a single moment of precious time.

If you never told a loved one why they are special to you, do it now.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net