Hi Bubby,

Writing letters to each other feels so natural now. From bootcamp and infantry school, to OCS training and deployment, we’ve written our fair share. However, today I’m not writing you to update you on the cute things my dog did or the arguments Mom & I have gotten into, or how I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with the man of my dreams. I’m writing you today to remind you of how we got to where we are today. To perhaps take a trip down memory lane, reminisce on old times, and to remind you why I’m proud to call you my Superman. I feel bad J. I feel bad for the people that truly and honestly think Superman is just a comic book character. Wait until the world meets a man like you. Then they too will believe that Superman exists.

When I was 15 I leaned on you. I was going through a really rough patch in my life, but you never left my side. I turned to you when I was so alone, and even when no one could understand, you always tried to. I was a mess to say the least, high school hit me hard, but your support always came back harder. Through the eating disorder, depression, and the anxiety, you were always there to set me back to reality. The night you saw me at my lowest point, struggling, and begging to just give up, you gave me so many reasons to hold on. You didn’t know it then, but you saved my life. My Superman.

When I was 16 I formed an inseparable bond with you. From moving towns and starting a new life just you and I, thrown to a pack of wolves at a new high school, you were always right there. From crazy girls to mean guys, from bullies to girls who just wanted to ruin our lives, we always cracked a smile. You never let me cry. You never let me feel bad for myself. You were always the positive to my negative. You were always there to help somebody out, which happened to be me -- a lot. You didn’t know it then but you became my best friend. My Superman.

When I was 17 I was scared for you. For 17 years you never left my side, you never left the house for longer than a week, and you were never farther than a phone call away. But when I was 17, that all changed. You made a decision that would change your life forever, but little did I know it would change mine as well. You enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, which everyone thought was so cool, and so brave. But to me, it was scary.

You’d leave me for countless months. I had to learn to live my life with out you to lean on, I had to learn to be strong on my own. I had to learn to be me without you, and to be honest I was terrified. You put on such a brave face, and you never let fear strike your eyes. I have never seen a man more determined in my entire life, and I couldn’t tell you how scared I was. You didn’t know it then but the hardest thing I have ever had to do was say goodbye to you.

Now, I am 20. I had to learn to get through my senior year of high school without you. I had to navigate my freshman year of college alone, but the scariest part was I had to learn to grow into an adult without my Superman. You taught me so much before you entered the military. But, to my surprise, you taught me more than I ever thought possible while you were in the military, away from me.

You taught me how to fall in love with life, and to never take my freedom for granted. You taught me to cherish every moment and to live my life as if I were to die the following day. You taught me that no matter what life throws at me, that I am strong enough and I have the ability to get right back up and to take on the challenges that I never thought were possible. While you were away from me, I couldn’t be dependent on anyone anymore. I had to rely on myself to make me happy, I had to learn to trust other people because the only person I trusted was gone now. You guided me to where I am today because of how you treated me when I was younger, and all the years before and in between.

You don’t know this Bubby, but you made me into the woman I am today, and I guess in a way, I have the military to thank for it.

Love,

Sissy