Dear Pa,

Seven years ago, I lost you. I may have been young, but I was old enough to know that you were my best friend. Days that mom would drive to the Quick Check to meet you and Granny were always exciting to me. I knew I'd spend the next few days enjoying the company of you two.

The day that I lost you was one of the most heartbreaking days I have had to endure. I didn't want to believe it, so I avoided talking or thinking about it until the day we all gathered to celebrate your life. The day I lost you was the day before I started the sixth grade and the emotions didn't even really hit me until I had to inform my teachers I would be missing a few days of school due to a loss in the family. It was then that I realized what had really happened, and I was not nearly ready to cope with it.

Everyone who was lucky enough to have had you in their lives was incredibly sad. I was too young to really understand what was going on when you were sick, and I had never been expecting to lose you. However, as I came to terms with the reality we were all facing, I began to accept the fact that you were in a much better place. I knew that you were no longer in pain, and that you would be smiling down on all of us.

I will forever cherish the days we spent together. Whether we were mowing the lawn together on that old riding lawnmower, eating cracker soup, or making a run to the dump in your old red truck; I will always remember how happy I was. I will always be grateful for the things you taught me and the moments we shared; even the time you broke your tailbone while trying to show me that the slide wasn't that scary (sorry!).

I miss you more than words can express and I would give anything to have you back in all of our lives. Knowing that I will not have you here on my college graduation day, or at my wedding, or have you there when I have my first child is heartbreaking. I will miss all of the things we did together, even if it was just strolling through the garden picking those little tomatoes. Although you won't be here to physically hold my hand, I know that you are looking over me and guiding me through the big moments. Any time I am missing you, or needing your comfort, I just look down at your ring and know that you are here with me. I love you and miss you so much.

P.S. I'm in school now for meteorology. I'm following that dream to be the weather lady on channel 14, just like we always said I would be! I know you'll be watching me give people the false hope of a clear day with no rain some day soon.