To Grandparents...

Dear Mamaw,
I miss the way you would hug me when I was sick or hurt. It's been forever since I've last talked to you, and I never got to tell you how much I loved you.

I wish that we could have spent more time together, swinging in the park like we did when you were still here. The nights we stayed up and watched old movies together, and went on walks and talked about everything...I miss that.

When I saw you lying there, helpless and so still, I just wanted to grab you and hold you tight, and hope that you would get better. When you passed I felt like my whole world was ending...you were like one of my best friends.
I LOVE YOU MAMAW...

Dear Papaw,
I never got to say what I wanted to you. Now, when I look back I really regret it. Everyone that knew you said you were the most caring person they knew. I would have loved to tell you goodbye. I miss you more and more each day. You are always in my thoughts. You will never be forgotten and I will always love you.
-Anonymous

Dear Granny B__,
I feel like I've missed out on many things in my life because of your death. I was only four years old when you passed, so I never really got to know you. I wish that I could have been given more time with you, more time to get to know you. Time to talk to you, to tell you about my life and get your opinion on how I should handle my many different situations. I wish I could have received your advice, and seen first-hand the kindness and gentleness you always expressed, that Mom and Dad have told me so much about.

Even though I was only four when you passed, somehow I knew that the world had lost one of its brightest lights. I remember that sadness on Dad's face, and the tears in his eyes. He always was a momma's boy. He loved you more than anything else in this world. He would want you to know that. Seeing the men that Dad and his brothers have become, and the woman that his sister has become gives me some insight into what a wonderful woman and mother you were.

I miss you Granny B__. I miss the trips Dad and I would make every Saturday morning to pick up a jug of your homemade sweet tea. That's still my favorite drink, because it reminds me of you. I miss Christmas and Thanksgiving, when everyone would gather together at yours and Papaw's house. But Granny, I know that you are in a better place. The last years of your life were very painful for you, I know. But, despite the lymphoma and the crippling arthritis, not once did you ever complain or let it keep you from doing what you knew you needed to do. I can honestly say that you were a much better woman than I.

So, Granny B__, I thank you. I thank you for the way you raised my dad, for the values you instilled in him, and for your impact on my mom. From their stories and my vague memories, I know that you were a woman like no other. Your memory still lives on through the stories that are told to all of us grandchildren by our parents and Papaw. You are my hero. If I can become half the woman that you were, then I could consider myself very blessed indeed. I love you Granny B__. I can't wait until the day that I get to meet you again.
All my love,
-Anonymous


Dear Mamaw,
There was much I never got to say to you, but if I could tell you now, I would start with I love you and I miss you. I know you loved me too. You probably didn't know this, but you're a huge part of who I am today. I've always looked up to you since I was a little girl. To me, you're perfect. You could do everything. You kept everything so clean, you were a great cook, you were so pretty, and you always had time for me. I always wish I could be just like you. I know I didn't see you as often as I should have, but I'm glad I was right there beside you during your last twenty-four hours here on Earth. I know you're an angel in Heaven, looking down on me. I want you to know that you will not be forgotten and that my love for you will never fade away.
Sincerely,
Your granddaughter

Thank you Maw-Maw for caring for me while my mom was working. Thank you for the countless strolls in the neighborhood that led to adventures, which created many happy, childhood memories. Thank you for sharing your Cajun-French heritage with me. Thank you for all of the joy and laughter you brought into my life, especially dancing with you to the "Nacho-Man" Doritos Commerical. Thank you for sharing your love of music with me. I took all of this for granted, especially the "little things" that had the biggest impact in my life.

I never will get to say..."I am driving now;" "Let me take you for a ride;" "Sit and listen to me play the guitar for you." I want you to be there when I graduate from high school and college. I want you to be able to see me grow and mature into a young man and be proud of me and my accomplishments.

Memories of my grandmother and the little "life lessons" she instilled in me are the inspiration and motivation
that have become the driving force to accomplish my goals and dreams now, and in the future.

No one knows when God will call us Home. I never got to give you one last hug, and I never got to say, "Thanks for being part of my life, Maw-Maw. I love you."
-Anonymous

Dear Papaw,
I wish you hadn't left this world so soon. I wasn't ready to let you go; it all happened so fast. Thoughts of you not being here with me had never even crossed my mind. I can't imagine birthdays, Christmas, family reunions, and everyday life without you. My sixteenth birthday is coming up soon, and I know that if I drove up in a new car you would smile, shake your head, and tell me to "act my age," like you always do.

I miss that smile; I don't think that there was ever a time that I saw you without it. We have so many wonderful memories together, but I wish we had time to make more. My life will never be the same now that you're gone. When you were in the hospital, I know that I told you I love you, but neither of us knew it would be the last time. So, know that I love and miss you so much.

I wish you were here with me, but I know you are in a better place, and I will try not to shed too many tears. You wouldn't want me to be sad when I should be rejoicing your arrival in Heaven. I want you to know that I am going to be a granddaughter that you would be proud of. I plan to see you again someday. But, until then, I love you.
-Anonymous

 

Dear Mamaw,
I never got the opportunity to say that I love you and I miss you so much. I know God has a certain time to take everyone but it feels like he took you away from me too early. I didn't really get a chance to get to know you when I was younger. All the memories I have of you, I will always remember. Like on Sunday morning when you woke up early to make sure all of your grandkids had a good breakfast before we went to church. I'm trying to say I love you and all the memories that I have with you, I'll never forget. I'll always remember you.
-Anonymous


Dear Great Grandpa,
I don't remember meeting you, but I get to hear about you often. There isn't a family reunion where your name isn't brought up and we talk for hours about you and your six foot legs. I've grown to love you as if you were actually here. My most memorable picture is of you holding me when I was just born. Although you died shortly after my birth, you still live on through the stories and jokes my family tells me. By being there for my family, you have still greatly influenced my life. You were never forgotten and never will be. I wish I would have gotten to know you more before you passed. However, I will try to place you as much as I can while I'm here. I'll meet you in Heaven when it's time to come home.
Love,
Your Great Granddaughter

Dear Grandpa,
If you were still alive I would tell you how much I loved you and how sorry I am for not always being there. I want more than anything to change the fact that I wasn't nearly as close to you as I wanted to be. I wish that I would have spent more time getting to know you better and just being with you. Losing someone close will make you realize that family is the key to everything, so cherish every moment.
Sincerely,
Your grandson

Dear Grandma,
I never got the chance to tell you how much I miss you. I miss the times you used to call us in from playing in the yard to your world class apple fritters. I miss the times when you would sit up with me when I was sick, and how you were there when no one else seemed to be. However, most of all, I miss the way you used to look at me whenever I did something special. That look added meaning to my life; it gave me a hope that each day I may be so lucky as to earn another from a person so near and dear; someone who was my friend before anything else.
Sincerely,
Your loving grandson

Dear Mamaw,
There are many unspoken memories and questions I wish I would have been able to ask. I was only four when you passed away. I never got to talk to you about how you grew up or tell you I love you. All the memories I have of you are from pictures and stories I have been told. Most of my family have told me how outspoken and spunky you were; which sounds a lot like me. I have always wanted to know what you would think of me now, if you would be proud of me or disappointed in me. I would want for you to be happy with how I am now. My sister has told me many stories of you from when she was younger. She tells me all the memories you have with her and it shows me how much I would have loved to actually meet you.
Love,
Your Great Granddaughter

Dear Mamaw,
It's been years since you passed but I still miss you. My biggest regret is that I never got to say goodbye to you. If I had known at the time and understood that you were leaving, I would have told you how much I love you.
Sincerely,
Your grandson

Dear Papaw,
I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry, sorry for not coming to see you as much as I should have. I guess that I was too young to understand that I needed to tell you I loved you, because you weren't going to be here forever. I also wanted to thank you for all the good times we had.
I wish we had more time to talk about baseball and for you to show me more about my pitching. I wish I could see your curve ball.
Sincerely,
Anonymous

Dear Mama,
There is so much I wish I could have said to you before you passed away. I never got to thank you for everything you did for me. I didn't show you my appreciation when you would cut out quilt squares and lay them on the table for me to sew every morning. You were the one I looked up to. You were the one I wanted to be like when I was little. You were so tiny, but so strong and wise.
I remember when you would "doctor me up" and take care of me when I was hurt or scared. It was you I wanted to hold me and comfort me. I miss having you here to care and love me. Even though I know that you are up in heaven watching over every little thing I do, I wish you were here so I could tell you how much I appreciated everything you did for me. I miss and love you.
Love,
Your Granddaughter

 

Dear Papa G,
I never got to say that I love you to your face. I never got to thank you for raising my mother right. I am so sorry that you never got to see how I have grown to look just like you. How I have grown tall, with broad shoulders, a widows peak, and a double cow lick.
Sincerely,
Your Grandson


Dear Mamaw,
I love you so much. You were one of the most incredible and amazing women I knew. You had so much strength, courage, and faith that God would take care of everything. You never questioned why bad things happened to you. You believed it was all part of a bigger plan. I never saw you cry. No matter what you were always more worried about the people around you rather than yourself. I never told you thanks for always being there and how much I appreciated you, and how much I enjoyed our times together. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I have learned so much from you. You've helped me be the person I am today. If I could grow up to be half as amazing of a woman as you were I would be just fine. I am proud to be your great-granddaughter, and I am honored to have known you.
Love always,
Anonymous

Dear Papaw,
I just wanted to tell you that I will always miss the way your stories would make me laugh and how you could always find a way to cheer someone up if they were feeling down. Also, even though it would get on my nerves from time to time having to take you dancing every Friday night at the Recreation Center I will always miss that time I got to spend with you, and all the good times we shared.
-Anonymous


Dear Mamaw,
I never got to saw how much I loved you or what you meant to me. I never got to say how I wanted you to be there when I needed you most. I really never got to say much at all because I didn't think you would go so fast. But I know in my heart every day until that glorious day God wants me to become one of his angels too, I will be waiting, praying, and missing you. Mamaw, I want you to save me a seat beside you. But above all, I guess God needed you more that I did. But, I'll always have the memories of me and you to get me through each day.
-Anonymous

How did you do it? It's been almost 18 years since I've had a good egg custard pie. Sure wish I had taken the time to ask you how you made it, but then you would have just said you didn't use a recipe! Mamaw, I can still see those pies coming out of the oven only wrapped in tin foil as a pan. How did you do it?
-Anonymous

Dear Pop Pop,
You were the first person I ever lost. I was so devastated. So was the rest of your family. Why did you have to die on us all? Wish I got to know you better. You seemed like a pretty neat person.
Love,
Your Grandson

Papaw - I can still see you sitting in your rocking chair on the front porch wearing your white dress shirt, green pants, and pj hat with a fly swatter in your hand. You always called me "Sissy," but I think you called all the female grandchildren that. The only time I ever remember you raising your voice or getting mad at me/us (grandchildren) was when we would throw rocks down the well or shake apples off of the tree. Then, and only then, would you make that sucking noise with your tongue on the roof of your mouth (3 times) and scold us while shaking that fly swatter! We would run like scolded dogs knowing good and well that you weren't coming after us. Did I tell you I loved you enough?
-Anonymous

I'll never forget sitting by your hospital bed and reading 'Dover Beach' to you during your last hours of earthly life. You were so excited that I would soon be traveling to England, and that I would get to see Dover for myself. A month later, I sat on the beach at Dover and cried for hours. If I had known that day would be your last, I would have told you how much your passion for poetry and travel has inspired me.
-Sarah Sparks

Dear Nana,
How many things I wish I could have said to you in retrospect. I left you for dead in a hospital bed when you were still fighting harder than I realized at the time. I copied down the words you wrote when you were still fighting harder than I realized at the time. I copied down the words you wrote on that pad and saw in them a frailty of which I was terrified. I thought I was being courageous in encouraging you to look for that light. But then you snapped back out of it for a few months and I was even more terrified. How could I face you after I said "Goodbye" too soon? So I am sorry that in the last few months of your life that I avoided you. I never should've been so dismissive of the miracle and mystery of your life. I hope that you've found peace and that you know that I still think about you everyday.
Love,
Your Grandson

I never got to ask him what his parents were like. I never got to ask him what things were like for him after the war. I never got to ask him why he married Nanny. I never got to listen.
-Ginny Norman