September 1st, 2016. Three years have passed since you took your leave from Earth. Three years have passed since I woke to the heart-wrenching news of you being gone. Three years have passed since you've been saved from the worst pain I have ever seen you go through. Three years have passed since I made the personal change to live my life more the way you lived yours. They say that time heals all wounds. While that might be true and while I might have discovered other positive ways to cope with you being gone, the wound will never be fully healed. The night before you selfishly (only joking) left us, I had full plans to see you after my shift at work. Once I got back home from work, I then had new plan to see you that coming Sunday. I guess you had some different plans that I didn't entirely knew about. Lack of communication there, but don't worry, I understand and forgive you. I know they say you're always watching me and my family now that you're with God, but thank God you weren't physically here to see me as a wreck once you left. I had a lot of questions for you, and some have been answered by you moving your way through my life, some times without me even realizing this. I've heard the song "Who You'd Be Today" by Kenny Chesney, and I know I don't have to wonder that at all. I know exactly who you would be today if you had beaten that cancer the second time around, or weren't even given that relentless opponent to fight. You would be the guy who would swallow four cheeseburgers without even cringing. You would be the guy who would call everybody brother, even if you had just met this person. You would be the guy who would meet my girlfriend of going-on five months now, and constantly flirt with her, even in front of my grandmother, the woman who absolutely adored and couldn't get enough of your sense of humor. In fact, I really don't think anybody could get enough of your humor. I still remember when I was sitting in my hospital bed just after having my appendectomy, and you and grandma came to visit me. I hadn't seen you be that happy in such a long time since you had started your chemotherapy. Once I saw you in your own bed in Countryside, all I wished for was for me to be in that bed, and for you to be the one loving life again.

So, I guess you're wondering how I've been since you went to be where you always wanted to go. I have been doing so very well, grandpa. I don't think I've ever involved myself with school as much as I have been both last year and this coming year. I am a member of two fraternities on-campus, Pi Kappa Phi and Lambda Alpha Epsilon. I have grown closer to my spiritual side since you left. I read a few pages of the bible when I was going through basic training, and I even have one of my favorite verses tattooed on my right shoulder blade. The verse of Isaiah 6:8 has made me persevere through not only your death or basic training, but initiation of Pi Kappa Phi, school in general, adjusting to this life of adulthood, and so much more. As I mentioned before, I am in a relationship going-on five months come September 7th. Grandpa, I wish you could meet her. She is just one of the greatest people I could ever stumble upon. And to think we met at a callback for one of the shows I wasn't even in...who am I kidding? I'm almost positive you already know how incredible she is. She would definitely be one of your "stuff", and I would kill for just a voice recording of your laugh or one more conversation with you. I don't want to take up any more of your time, because I'm sure Heaven's quite the busy place up there in the clouds. I can't wait to see you again, and say hi to Aunt Jo for us down here. I love you, and I'll see you soon, Grandpa.