Dear Nanni,

I’m already tearing up typing this because it’s been just over eight years since I’ve seen you.  It feels like it’s been much longer than eight years though.  So much has happened since you left us.

You know by now that Poppy and (great) uncle Steve have left us as well.  And Darcy and aunt Matilda.  I honestly hope they’re all with you and you’re enjoying their company now.  On that note, I hope you’re enjoying the grandchildren that you never got to meet on earth.  Give them mine and my mom’s love.

I graduated college in May this year.  It took me six years because I transferred twice and changed majors, but I did it.  I’m still trying to find a job in my field, but I know something will come along in God’s timing.  Speaking of college, mom got her Bachelor’s Degree in 2011.  You’d be proud of her; I know I am.

You have a handful more great-grandchildren now.  I’m not quite sure how many have been born since 2007, but there’s been a lot.  Probably at least one a year since you died, not including this year though.  I didn’t get any new cousins this year.  And I can tell you right now you won’t get great-grandchildren from me anytime soon.  I’m not ready for a family life yet, since I just graduated and all.

I’m still single, but I’m okay with it.  I’ve been more focused on college and now my career.  And of course I’m always trying to grow in God’s love.  I know for sure that if I get married I want to be married to a strong Christian man like you had with Poppy.

I really miss you Nanni.  I miss going down to your place when I was home sick from school and you would give me crackers with butter and diet root beer in a glass bottle.  I miss watching The Price is Right with you… I can’t watch that show since you passed.  What I miss most though is that when I watched TV with you I’d sit next to you on your recliner and as I got older and bigger you told me my big butt could barely fit anymore.

I also miss how you used to mix me up with my mom and call me by her name.  That was funny.

Mom really misses you too.  She thinks about you a lot and she doesn’t want me to have the same regrets she does when she leaves me (which I really hope isn’t for like, 50 years at least).  I think everyone regrets something when a person passes away though, ’cause it’s only then when you think about all the things you could’ve done with or for that person.  Or you think of some of the bad times you had with them and regret those.

The morning you passed I started to regret the times I chose going to my other grandmother’s place instead of yours.  I know it’s a silly thing to regret because I did go to your house a lot – I think it was an even split between you and grandma.  But that day though I had just wished I spent more time with you than I did.  But I know you had all my cousins to spent time with as well; I couldn’t be a Nanni-hog.

Now that I think about it, I wish I had made applesauce cookies with you at least once while you were here.  My mom and everyone older than me says they were amazing cookies.  I can’t remember if I’ve ever had them or not.  Mom has your recipe for them, so at least that can live on.

I really hope you’re doing well Nanni.  I can’t stress how much we all miss you down here.  Give everyone else up there my love and I really wish you were here for me to give you a big hug.

I love you Nanni.