Grandpa,

I want you to know that I love you. You are a man who has done extraordinary things in your life. I have had the pleasure to know you a fraction of your life but you have always been a part of mine until recently. You were there for me when my mom introduced me to the world, you were there in the audience always clapping whether I had just finished a musical performance or walked across stage to receive my high school diploma. You have always been a part of my life; watching me grow up while I on the other hand watched you grow old.

Your hearing was never good as far back as I can remember, but it never stopped you from smiling as I told you everything happening in my life. Your appetite had never diminished, which allowed you to become rotund and reminded me of a beardless Santa as a child. Your stories were always interesting and sometimes you even spilled a few wise words about the world. Your cards: I loved them the most about you.

On special occasions, you would hand me a card with my name on the envelope. At a young age I would only care about the contents within the card, which usually consisted of cash. As I grew older, the cash no longer was in my interest but the card itself turned into the gift I always waited for. Mom would repeatedly tell me how you could spend hours going through each card and search for a card that was meant for me. Over time I realized how much joy I got from receiving your cards that I started to dedicate time into picking out cards for people.

The ability, compassion, and thought gone into picking a card is a speciality I have learned from you. During the college process, I had to answer what an important aspect of my identity is and why I would not be me without it. I dedicated my answer to you and how you taught me the value of cards whether given or received. My essay was titled “A Card Just For You” and I would not be who I am today without you.

Grandpa, I will miss you dearly and so will everyone else who you left behind. You lived a long life for 97 years and have done so much with it like fight for our country during World War II. You became a businessman and owned a carshop for more than 30 years. You got married to Gloria and had three children who luckily one of them became my mother. You have done so much in the world and have even given me the world. I know that it is time for you to go and I just want to say thank you and I love you.