these are powerful posts....i don't have a letter to add, however i did write a poem to my AH many years ago and only gave it to him last week. It hit me between the eyes that i felt like this so long ago, and still stayed:
The daytime words,
are soft and kind.
Then dusk reveals,
a twisted mind.
So full of hate,
and pain and yet,
each time is worse,
but, they forget.
Love them deeply,
though you may,
the booze will sweep,
their soul away.
A pile collects,
of broken dreams,
of nasty words,
and hateful screams.
The noise subsides,
and they're asleep.
So now its safe,
for you to weep.
This illness robs,
your closest friend.
You hope and pray,
that it will end.