Dear Abuelo,

How are you? How is it up there? I know you must be having a good time, considering Abuela and Abuelita are up there with you.

I just thought I should let you know I miss you. I've been having dreams with you recently. I'd like to thank you for your presence. For the last eighteen years, you have been there on your couch watching Telenovelas. You would put your earphones on and you would listen to the Marlins game. It was just something you get used to, your grandfather at home and safe.

All I can replay is sitting with you and making you rewatch Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree over and over. It's a distant memory, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I'd like to imagine you like that forever, so patient and kind and so in love with his granddaughter that he would allow her to torture him with Winnie the Pooh. Thank you for being my first friend.

I think of how you never wanted to see me cry, how you would protect me from anything. I remember that night that my mother went to the hospital, where you let me stay by your side. I think of how when I was anxious, you called me to your side and would calm me down. If I was crying, you'd cry with me. You were so loyal, and you knew how to cheer me up.

I can't help but remember how stubborn you were, how you wouldn't let age get the best of you. You'd try your hardest to clean the dishes, fold your clothes, sweep the floor, even though we begged you not to. You wanted to help us.

I want to thank you for all the times you watched over me when I was sick. I want to thank you for reminding me to take medicine or blow my nose. I want to thank you for getting the aerosol machine ready when I had bronchitis in November. Thank you for telling me to put on a sweater when it was cold or to not go to bed with my hair wet. Thank you for being my personal doctor.

I'm sorry for times that I would get annoyed with you. I'm sorry for days where I would barely acknowledge your existence. I'm sorry I didn't keep you posted with much of my life. Sometimes with growing up, things get complicated. But know that I always loved you, through thick and thin.

I'm going to miss the way you would say "pollo!" and the way you would say "oh" in a sing-song way when something clicked. I'll miss how you would call me every five seconds. I'll miss how you would check up on me when I would be at school for too long. I'll miss the way you would rant about politics and would keep us posted on the news. I'll miss how you would always play the lotto, tell me to help you organize your appointments, and order medications. I'll miss your weird cleaning methods and natural remedies. I'll miss you.

I'm glad I got to spend the last few days of your life with you. I'm glad I got to see you smile one last time and hear your voice one last time. I'm grateful you were my grandfather and you loved me with all your might. It might take me some time to cope and get used to the fact that you won't be at home to give me a kiss on the forehead to or to hear you ramble on, but I know you're here in my heart, and you're watching over me. I'll think of you every single day, and I promise I'll make you prouder than you ever could be of me while you were here on Earth. I'll go fishing for you, watch baseball for you, and I'll love you. I'll live your legacy.

I'll always remember my strong Abuelo, who never gave up. My strong Abuelo who came from Cuba and was the family man. The one whose eyes lit up to see me home. Who would refuse to eat something sweet then say "well, a little won't hurt." The one who just sat there and watched TV. Goodbye, Abuelo, te quiero mucho.

Your loving granddaughter,

Ashley