Dear Nana,
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly five years since you passed away. I still remember staying up late at your apartment in Middletown playing old NCAA video games on my Xbox 360. I remember when you lived in your old house across from where the library used to be, and we would eat popcorn by candlelight.
I remember the way that you were always there for me no matter what I needed. When I was really little, if there was a toy I wanted, I was sure to end up with it. You would always take my side in any argument, no matter how stupid my position was.
I remember writing a sports magazine with a pencil, and you were the other expert analyst even though you had no idea about any of the teams I was writing about. I wish you could be here to see me actually do sports journalism now.
We spent countless hours on the phone talking about anything and everything. I don’t even want to know how much malware ended up on your computer from all of the random websites I asked you to visit.
I wish you were still here to hear me be the PA announcer for a lot of the athletic programs at Campbellsville. I know you would have loved to hear me do that.
I wish you could have been at my graduation. You played such an instrumental role in my education by always believing in me and telling me about how talented I was.
I remember how you would always come down to watch me and Dad play basketball on the easily breakable goal that hung down on our front door. You probably would’ve even come to watch me play intramural pickleball at Campbellsville if you could.
I wish you were able to read the articles I’ve written for The Campus Times and Times Journal. All the books that you bought me paid off and have helped me become a better writer.
I really miss just being able to talk to you. You always cared about what I had to say, no matter how ridiculous the words coming out of my mouth were. We were kindred spirits, and you always had a ready ear. You were like a best friend.
I know the last few years were really hard for you. I know you could barely walk, and breathing was getting hard. We spent a lot of time up at your apartment during that period. There were times where I wished we could just go home, but now I wish that I had spent so much more time with you.
I’ve never met anyone who had a bad thing to say about you. Everyone I’ve ever met who knew you has told me about how kind and funny you were. We all still remember the impact that you made on everyone around you. Mom says that when I eventually get married, she hopes that she can be the mother-in-law to my future wife that you were to her.
I miss you. I can’t wait to see you again someday.
Love,
Joshua
