[It's ironic. While his father was alive, Marco would always keep up a brave face and his father did the same back. Neither of them would really show the other one pain or it'd wreck the other person up. But now with his father gone and dead, he's a little more honest in his letters. Perhaps because he knows it's just for his own piece of mind.]

In my case, it's been helpful. But the circumstances might be different. My brothers are also tacticians so normally I'd be seeking their advice, and same with my father. [And it's more that it's been helping with the grief of losing him.] Still, it seems to make them a little less distant, even if only in your thoughts.