Dear Grandpa,

The first thing I want to say is that I miss you with all my heart. I never stop thinking about you or the times we had when you were still with us.

I hate that I had to lose you at such a young age. I was old enough to remember your smell and the sound of your laughter, but I was too young for you to get to know the real me. I didn't truly grow into myself until my freshman year of college. That's when I discovered myself; I became more confident and outgoing. College is where I found my true friends, who I cannot live without, friends that I wish you could meet.

I wish that you could be at my wedding one day. I wish that you could meet my future husband and approve of him (it would mean a lot coming from you because you were so protective of me). I wish you could be sitting in the church as I give my vows and promise to love my future husband as deeply as you loved me and our entire family.

I wish you could be at my college graduation. I know you would probably complain that it's too hot to be sitting outside, but I know that you would be cheering louder than anyone when they called my name to receive my diploma. I know you would push my parents out of the way so that you could have been the first person to hug me after the ceremony finished.

I wish that you were around to hear that we still talk about you. We all still laugh about stories from vacations and how you would get mad if someone took your seat at the dinner table on Christmas. I wish you knew that we still set a place setting for you; we even cut you a slice of cake at each birthday celebration. I wish you could hear us all trying to impersonate the way you laugh or how sarcastic you liked to be.

I wish I took more pictures with you. I wish smartphones were a thing when you were still here, so I could have had videos of your voice with me always. You should see me cry when we watch old home movies from my communion, where you tell me how much you love me and how proud you were of my accomplishments.

I hope you know I visit your grave whenever I can. I tell you stories and update you on my life, all nine years that you have missed. I hope you know that I took some of your tee shirts and sweatshirts that I wear all the time. Unfortunately they haven't smelled like you in a while, but that doesn't stop me from wearing them; when I do, I feel like I'm still so close to you and it gives me such comfort.

I want you to know that I miss you so much and I wish you could be around to see the woman I became.

I love you, Grandpa.

Love,

Your Granddaughter