A big bowl of Waffle Crisp on a TV tray.
An endless supply of oatmeal cookies.
A McDonald’s hamburger with a coffee and a large chocolate ice cream cone at Rock-N-Roll Dairy Bar because you refused to let me order a small.

Your plaid shirts with the pocket in the front that perfectly held your 3,000 year old wallet.

The duct tape. Oh my goodness, the duct tape.

How you’d roll up your pant leg if you got too hot.
How you’d sit next to me and gently play with my ponytail every single time I wore my hair up.
The way you put your initials on literally everything you owned.

The way you’d hug me tight and say, “Make your daddy mind” every time we’d say goodbye.

The way you’d scroll Facebook at 4am and I’d wake up to dozens of notifications from you. I sure do miss that.

The ugly clunkers you loved to drive with the giant shoebox of old cassette tapes stashed in the front seat. (Hey, grandpa, can you hear me?)

The homemade birthday cards that I looked forward to getting every single year. There’s a box full of them from my childhood in my nightstand that I will keep forever. It’s hard to think about never getting another one. They were so special.

The countless dance recitals you came to. I’m sure you slept through most of them (or all of them) but the fact that you were there meant the world to me.

You taught me that bananas are a “superfood” and that all dogs are “he’s.”

You taught me that orange juice and apple cider vinegar is a disgusting (I mean…delicious) combination.

You taught me to always take my vitamins and say my prayers.

You taught me how the simple things in life are really the big things.

You taught me that faith and family are everything.

You impacted my life more than you ever knew, grandpa. And I will selfishly always wish that you were still here… but I’ll rejoice in the truth that your soul is Home, right where you belong.

Love you… always.

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