Dear Grandpa

In honor of my grandpa's 87th birthday tomorrow, I wanted to write him a letter. Yes, I know that he will never read it. But I wanted to do something to honor him, because I really miss talking to him about things, especially when it's important in my life. 

Dear Grandpa;
Happy 87th birthday! I wish there was some way for me to celebrate it with you being here in the flesh. You know a trip to Abate's, where you would get two bowls of pasta and Grandma would yell at you. You would flirt with the waitress, and she would bring you the Italian coffee. She loved you, and I remember up until the days after you died she asked about you.
Since the last time I saw you, so much has changed. I finally passed my driving test, and now hold a learner's permit. I got a job at the library. Yes, I get paid to read. I can remember you and Grandma taking me to the local town library, where we would get movies and picture books. When I go there now in the summers, I can still picture you in a chair with your ray-bans on. I have those glasses now, and they don't look quite the same on me as they do on you. The biggest news grandpa is that I've decided that I'm going to be a journalist. Those penny notebooks that you bought for me at ShopRite have paid off. I write for the school paper, and it literally is the best thing that I've ever decided to do. I can't wait until I write articles for money. Of course, it will never be work. It's something that I love. I wonder if you remember me writing my silly stories about my stuffed animals. I guess I've come a lot way from those ShopRite notebooks, and writing about the adventures of Wishbone.
I can still picture you the last time I saw you. You looked so small. I remember when you once looked so big, now you just looked like you were minimized. I remember how your once olive skin now had a gray tint to it. I hope that you are healthier in heaven. I hope that you're eating lots of cookies that you were allowed to eat.
I don't think that I've ever said this enough when you're alive, but I love you Grandpa. I miss you a lot, despite the fact that I know that you are no longer in pain. Everyone does. You were the glue to our family. You made Christmas jolly, and kept Grandma's crazy siblings at bay. You made us laugh, and you never once complained when you were in pain. I remember you when you turned 80, and you got a sweatshirt that said I'm 80 today. I remember the birthday when coffee was spilled all over Melissa, and I remember the time that Joe dropped the noki. They've become family stories told. Now, as we move on, I realize that something is missing every time we get together. That's you. I see it in everyone's face, especially Grandma's. I miss you eating your walnuts, and getting yelled at by Grandma for eating too much. I remember you drinking coffee at all hours, and I remember that soup is your favorite meal. I remember my second to last birthday with you. I turned 16, and it was the first time that I really knew that you were never quite the same. You yelled at me for the first time that day, and I will never forget it. Of course, I knew that you didn't know better.
I wish I can give you a gift, but I give you love. You've given it to me for all 19 years of my life. I can't understand why you had to deal with losing your sanity without control. You did everything right. However, you've given me a father. When I was little, I called you Daddy, because you were everything a father should be. I wish you were there for my prom, and when I graduated. I wish you will be able to walk me down the aisle when some dumb bastard decides to marry me. I wish that you'll be able to meet my kids, who will be named Sonny too.
Happy birthday Grandpa. I love you.
Natalie

"Mi Manchi, Nonno". Girl Between the Lines Post

I am the closest to my grandfather than perhaps any other human being on the planet. He raised me like I was his own child, not a grandchild. When he died of Alzheimer's disease two years ago, my grandma gave me a few of his things. I honestly couldn't decide, because these things each have some sort of value of their own.

The first item is a stuffed monkey, otherwise known as Mr Monkey. Mr. Monkey resides on my bed, has a red T-Shirt. He has a banana in his hand. His tongue is sticking out, and he's a light and furry brown. Mr. Monkey is perhaps one of my favorite stuffed animals, because it kind of reminds me of my grandfather, silly, and always fun. My grandmother gave me him shortly after he died, and he's been one of my most prized possessions.  Whenever I hug him, in some weird way it reminds me of my grandfather. Even though he just sits there, looking
The other two items are his necklaces that was his, or were once his and was made for me. The first one is a necklace that was made from a tie tack. My mom had given it to me for my high school graduation, and I am so glad that she did because even though I rarely wear it it's my favorite piece of jewelry. The other two are gold charms that he used to wear all of the time. The first is a Saint Jude, and the second is an anchor that my mom got him from Hawaii.
I choose these items because I was really close to my grandfather, and I miss him terribly. Therefore, picking just one was a hard thing to do. I miss him more and everyday, so the fact that I own things that he once had has the most value than things that cost thousands of dollars. Whenever I look at these things, I am reminded of his fight, his smile, and the fact that he never once complained during his six year battle with Alzheimer's. Thank you Grandpa, for not only the material possessions, but for the wisdom that you've also left behind. Ti amo, il mio nonno. Mi manchi molto.*

*I love you, my grandpa. I miss you a lot.