Dear Grammy,

I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever told you just how much you mean to me or how grateful I am to have a grandma like you. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to truly express how thankful I am, but I’m going to try.

You’ve been there for me through everything; you're always there to support me and are a part of every memory. From elementary school choir concerts and high school bell choir to my college play performance, you’ve been at all my school events, even when I didn’t want to be there myself.

You’ve been with us on all of our vacations from camping to Las Vegas and I’m so glad that I can look back on those places and those memories and know that you were there. I still say that we should go back to Las Vegas now that I’m 21 and can finally gamble with you.

You were at every horse show, every showmanship, every fair, cheering me on and helping me get everything ready — including my horse and myself. I don’t know if I ever told you how much I appreciated knowing that you were there to help me do something that I was so passionate about. I’m glad that it was something we were able to do together.

When mom and dad told me “no," you made sure I knew what mom and dad say goes, then would give me what I wanted anyway. It helped me understand that we both answered to mom and dad. Even if grandma overrules.

You’re always there when I need someone to talk to, especially when I’m panicking and sobbing about the cricket that jumped under the refrigerator before I could get it — the most recent in a line of unwanted guests found around my apartment. Or even as I’m walking home from campus and just want someone to talk to — you’re always there.

Our sleepovers are the best. Who else would stay up until 3 a.m. with me watching "Night at the Museum" and make french toast for me the next morning before shopping all day? You spoiled me, and still do, but know that I’ve never taken it for granted.

Even with all your joking about my tattoos and ever-changing hair (at least it’s not red anymore), you’ve never been disappointed in me and you’ve never stopped supporting me. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. To know that I have someone like you, who loves and supports me unconditionally, always there when I need you, always just a phone call away, is the best. You amaze me in everything that you do, still going strong and not planning to stop any time soon. You’re my role model and I only hope that I can be as amazing as you one day.

I love you, Grammy. No matter where I go or what I do, I know that you’ll always there when I need you. Thank you for everything that you do — I wouldn’t be who or where I am today without you.