To My Future Father-in-Law,

I was not given the opportunity to really get to know you. I was not as lucky as your other children's spouses to get to know you fully. I met you right when you had found out. You had just learned that you had Glioblastoma. It was the most aggressive brain tumor. You were frail and very sick. I was scared you would not like me or want to get to know me. I was scared to talk to you in fear of you not liking me for your son.

Your son told me so much about you. He told me funny stories, what you did for a living, how you met your wife, what kind of a father you were like, and the kind of life you were able to provide for your children. Your son told me how funny you were, how kind but stern you were, how much you loved beer and cigars. He told me about the trips you and your family took to Cancun. He told me how much you loved the beach and Jimmy Buffet.

You got progressively worse within nine months but somehow your humor was intact with you. You would call me "girl" and your wife told me that is how I know you liked me. You would always make jokes about your sickness. You tended to keep a positive attitude about the whole situation. You began to get worse and overtime I began to worry if it could possibly be genetic. Thankfully, it is not.

You were only able to meet your grandson Tucker who will not remember you. You won't be able to meet your sons children. They will only hear stories about you from your son and I. You won't get to watch your son get engaged or come to our wedding. You won't be able to tell stories to our friends or watch your son graduate. You won't be able to watch anything happen anymore to our lives here on earth, but maybe you are somewhere else watching over everyone.

I really wish I was given more time to get to know you. I wish that you did not get so sick so quickly. I wish I had met your son sooner so maybe there could be memories between us. I hope that one day I get to know you more through stories people tell and through the pictures that are left. I hope you know that I love your son and want nothing more than to make him happy. I hope one day you can look down wherever you may be and be at ease. May you continue to Rest In Peace somewhere on a beach watching the sunset with a cold one in your hand and a cigar in the other!