Dear Grandma,

Things are different without you here, as you can imagine. No longer do I get three calls a day, voice mails always saying "Hey Kylie, it's your Grandma," like caller ID wasn't a thing. Truth be told, I still have all your voice mails. I like to hear your voice every now and then and act like you just called and left the message today. I always laugh at the one I have where you call after I got you groceries. "Kylie, we forgot the most important thing— toilet paper!" You were laughing but I know you were mid panic knowing you couldn't go get any by yourself.

Now that you're gone, I just drive by your house and look in its direction knowing it's not the same without you inside. I think of all the memories we had there, from watching the five years of "Lost" every Wednesday night or family Christmas. Any time with you was my favorite, no matter what we were doing. Cleaning out your house when you left was pretty terrible, not only because you probably never cleaned under that chair of yours, but knowing it would be someone else's home. It was just a bunch of stuff now, but to you it meant the world. I'm so glad the weeks before you went to the hospital we went through all of your pictures. You told me who everyone was and where the pictures were taken. You were so happy to share the stories. I didn't think the next time I would be explaining these pictures would be weeks later while putting them on picture boards at your funeral.

The night before you went home, I snuck in to see you past visiting hours because you called me, and well, asked for a pack of gum. For starters you don't even like gum, so I don't know why in the world you asked for it. But I was planning on bringing it to you the next day because I got there and you were asleep. When I gave you a kiss on the forehead, you woke up and gave me a hug and a kiss.

I could never be more thankful that you asked for that pack of gum.

I know you were in pain and couldn't wait to see grandpa, that's why you left us exactly 10 years after him. I'm glad God brought you home, but I'll never understand why it happened the way it did.

I will never replace our memories, though. With time it seems like they get harder to remember, and it's only been a year. You were my best friend and you will always be. I know you're watching over us and I can't wait to see you again.

Though sometimes people may seem like they will be here forever and you don't have to answer three of their calls in one day, you're going to be happy you did when they're not calling anymore.

Love you GrammyPie, see you later.