Nana,

At almost twenty years old, I am ridiculously lucky to still have my grandmother in my life. I am even luckier to have the relationship with you that I do, and consider myself the luckiest when people tell me that I am just like you. You are a spitfire of a woman who loves so fiercely it’s inspiring. I know that there truly isn’t anything that you wouldn’t do for just about anyone, and I can confidently say that I don’t think the world would spin the right way if you weren’t here.

I can’t pinpoint any one thing that makes me admire you so much. It could be the way you put everyone before yourself, or how you turn every day into a dance party or the way you can make me smile on what feel like the worst days ever. Or maybe it’s actually just the way that you are and the way that you make everyone else want to be. You are absolutely radiant every single day, and I’m not quite sure how you manage that. No matter how much crap life, your kids, or your grandkids throw at you (and I know that it’s a lot) you take it in stride and make everything better. Some of the best memories that I have are hanging out with you, and I will forever be grateful for our dates. We can do nothing and I still consider it time well spent because I got to do nothing with you.

Thank you for always having time for me. Thank you for the daily funny texts, just to let me know you’re thinking about me. Thank you for tagging me in countless Facebook posts and sending me tons of memes. I don’t know if you know this, but every time I tell my friends another story about you, they ask if you’d be willing to adopt them as your grandkid too. Thank you for raising my mom to be just like you: strong, funny, stubborn, and selfless. Thank you for baking Christmas cookies and dying Easter eggs every single year. Thank you for reminding me when it’s time to get my shit together and when it’s okay to let loose and have a good time. Thank you for telling me that you’re proud of me, and making me feel proud of myself.

I don’t know if it’s possible to actually put into words how much you mean to me, and to all of us, or if you realize how incredible you are. But you are. And I hope that one day I can be like that too.

So mostly thanks for just being you.