So theoretically speaking, everyone should have 4 grandparents: 2 from your mom's side and 2 from your dad's side. Unfortunately, it's more common than not for people to not meet one or more of those grandparents for whatever reason. I was fortunate to know 3 grandparents in the almost first 19 years of my life. I lost my grandma a few months before I turned 19, but I have so many memories with her and stories that I could never forget her, unlike my niece and nephew who were 4 and 1 when she passed away and already don't remember her. However, I never got to meet my grandpop, my dad's dad. Most of my siblings didn't actually. He had passed away from cancer a little over a year after my older sister was born. Nonetheless, the stories we've heard about him are endless (and usually pretty funny) and I only wish you weren't taken from us so early so we all could've known the real Grandpop. Instead, here's a little letter for you from one of your many granddaughters.

Dear Grandpa,

So I'm sure you've been watching over all of us ever since you left, but there's so much we wish you could've been here in person for. You only got to meet one of your now many grandkids. And that little granddaughter you got to meet, she's now given you two great grandkids, a girl and a boy who are now 5 and 2. All of us grandkids were raised by great parents, your children. I can only imagine how proud of them you are, and I can only hope that you would be just as proud of all of us grandkids and all that we've accomplished.

Despite so many of us never being able to meet you, that has not stopped the family from sharing pictures and stories to make us feel like you're still around. For starters, from the pictures I've seen of you, Uncle Larry looks exactly like you, a spitting image. He was actually the person who gave me the inspiration for this article. He had bought a couple raffle tickets from me for an organization I'm a part of at school, and when he dropped off the money there was an extra $10 there. I asked him later in the day after I had noticed, and he said that you used to send $10 for finals week snacks, which is fitting since my finals start next week. All of your kids have a great sense of humor which from the stories I've heard, they've learned a lot from you. So many traditions and mannerisms that you yourself did have not been forgotten and I'm blessed to have had them passed on to me and my siblings. After talking to Dad, he said that you gardened (just like him and Uncle Chris), played pinochle which has now become a family game and tradition to play on Thanksgiving night while eating leftovers and playing Christmas music, and probably most importantly, that you went to church every week for as long as he could remember. You may have only been Catholic for the last two years of your life, but that makes for an honorable and respectable man.

I'm sure I could talk to Dad and my aunts and uncles about you and get even more stories and mannerisms that they knowingly or unknowingly have continued on and passed to us. But I'm sure that would make for quite a long article and letter. Just know that no one here has forgotten you, and your kids have done a great job of having your legacy live on, even 30 years later. I very much wish that I could've met you and heard all your great stories first hand, especially from when you were in Korea (I've heard they're pretty good). Just know we're all doing well and I can't wait to meet you many, many years from now when we all reunite in heaven. Hope you're enjoying your time up there and looking over all of us each and every day.

Love,

Your granddaughter, Mary

In loving memory of Grandpop (July 26, 1931 - November 9, 1986)