The First Love of My Life

Dear Henry,

We all have our first love at some point in our early years in life. For some it’s in middle school, high school, heck even later in life. Mine came at birth, when your Great-Grammy first laid eyes on me. I talk about her a lot in writing and when you do arrive, she’ll be a constant remembrance. It’s sad that you will not be able to meet her as she passed away during the pandemic. For this letter, I’m going to tell you about my time with my Grammy. The First Love of My Life.

September 4th, 1996 was a day in my life where one of the most significant bonds were cemented in time. Obviously I connected with my mom and dad, but there was a different feeling with Grammy. When I was first born, clearly I wasn’t able to distinguish many people or remember them but as I was growing up I was able to remember. Grammy gave her absolute all and she was that safety net for me. She had this presence of strength, compassion, and love that showed 24/7. That’s what I needed. Being the first grandchild for the first five years before your aunt was born helped solidify our relationship for a lifetime.

During my childhood, I would spend a great deal at their house. It was convenient because we lived right behind them. When school breaks begun or long weekends, I would just give them a call and run through the backyard to their home. Before we lived behind them, their home was where I stayed. My parents were very young, my mom had just turned 17 and my dad was just a few years older, so they needed the guidance from my…