Friday, April 9, 2021
I had no idea how to write this, how to write about the person who has had the biggest impact on who I am and who has loved me unconditionally for my entire life. I most certainly would not be where I am today without him. While I only knew him for the past 20 years in that short time he had more of an impact on me than I think even he knew. He has been there for me for as long as I can remember. From making random creations in the garage before I was even going to school to dropping me off at college he was there.
He taught me how to ride a bike (even though it took me running into his truck into an empty parking lot to do it), how to parallel park, how to drive, how to change the oil in my car, how to “measure twice and cut once” on projects, how to be thankful, how to stand up for my self, don’t worry I am not forgetting the stubbornness that definitely rubbed off on me. He taught me how to try new things and to not be afraid. He also taught me that with hard work and practice anything is possible which are all things I will take with me for the rest of my life. He also passed on countless memories and experiences I hope to pass on to my kids in the future.
He came to every softball practice and game of mine since I was 5 and entertained me every time I came over and asked to play catch, every time I asked to go to the batting cages. I’ll never forget how happy and excited he was the day I told him I made varsity. The lessons and memories we shared during that time are ones I will never forget
I remember endless hours of working on homework with him and taking turns reading and him quizzing me with flash cards. While eventually that did stop it set me up and lead me to be able to get into Stevens, something I know he was super proud of he even made me get him a sticker for the back of his truck.
Or even the story about how I got my dog. Me him Grammy and my mom all went that day to get a turtle because I had said I was the only kid in class who didn’t have a pet and wouldn’t you know, we came back that night with a dog. While it did take almost a full year before buddy would even come to him they were inseparable after that.
There are so many things I will be forever grateful for that I cannot begin to put into words. But the biggest this has to be that even though my dad (his son) had passed away when I was very young, he made sure I never felt the effects of that. He made sure he was there for me through everything, whether it was advice or help on a project or even just going to get lunch and me talking his ear off, he was there. Even when we would argue and I would get mad he would still say I love you as I was walking out his kitchen door and I would say it back no matter how mad I was because he taught me that if you love someone you love them no matter what, no matter how mad they get or the situation they put you in, you love them.
As I am sure most of you can relate to, he was the type of person who radiated positive energy and someone who everyone wanted to be around, don’t get me wrong he definitely knew how to argue too, but for me it was the way that that never lasted long, how he was able to move past it and continue radiating. That is who I aspire to be. All the while growing up I saw the impact he had on the people and the friends and family around him and that is what I wanted to be. He also gave me the drive and determination in me today. He had a saying that “anything worth doing is worth doing right” and that to this day is still something I live by and spread to everyone I meet.
I love him so much more than words could ever put together and I know I am going to miss him more than I have missed anything or anyone before. I’ll miss him coming to our house everyday sometimes to just watch tv but always to see how my day went or the countless dinners we had at his house or seeing his red truck driving down the road and know immediately it was him. I’ll miss playing catch and him being excited about me getting straight a’s in the past semesters and so much more but While he may be gone, the mark he left and the people he touched and continues to touch will forever live on in all of us. I love you grandad and I wish you were still here to hear this because I know how much you loved my “amazing cards” but you will always be apart of me and my heart. I love you.
