For Alannah



Alannah,

You are only four and you know that Grandpa has died and that you will not see him anymore, but I don't know how much you really understand it.  I'm afraid that you won't remember him and I want you to know what a special bond the two of you had.  Grandpa loved you so much and I know he will watch over you forever.  We lived with him the first two and a half years of your life.  You two always had your special time together.  When you were first born, he would come and hold you for a little while every evening after he came home from work.  As you got older, he would take you for walks or to play outside for a little bit every day.  When you learned to talked, you called him "Crappa".  Whenever he would come home, you would run to the front door with your arms wide open and yell "Craaaaappa!" and he would imitate you and yell "Alannaaaah!".  Even after we moved from Grandpa's house, we still saw him quite often.  You loved going to his house and spending time with him.  He always made sure to come visit if it had been a while since he'd seen you.  For your fourth birthday, he got you a really pretty charm bracelet.  I'm so glad he gave you that special bracelet before he passed away.  Grandpa put two charms on it, an "A" and some ballet slippers.  Mommy and daddy will continue to put charms on it in Grandpa's honor.  One of the last times we spend with Grandpa, was spent at his house on a Sunday afternoon.  We swam in his new spa (pool-size for you) and had dinner over there.  Before we left, you and Grandpa spent a long time sitting on the couch together.  You were showing him all of your silly pictures and movies on your phone (the ipod that Grandpa got you).  He was amazed at how quickly you learned to use it and everything you knew how to do.  He was always amazed at how smart you are. 

Even though he only got to spend a little more than four years with you, he gave you enough love for a lifetime.  I hope you will remember a least a little bit about him.  He will continue to be a part of our lives forever and will live in our hearts.