05/23/2023
Good morning Pop,
Today is the 23rd of May. Every year on this day id get a call from you reminding me tomorrow is a special day. You'd say, "even though you owe me thousands, what do you want as a gift?" My whole life I would have this grand explanation on how I needed some meaningless item that was unreasonably expensive. You were such a great grandfather although you'd remind me whatever I had asked for was way too expensive, I would always wake up the following day & get another phone call. You'd tell me I better come over because mema baked a ham, made her homemade mac & cheese and my favorite, a homemade apple pie completely from scratch. Id get to your house & not only would you have the gift Id wanted but, youd usually feel it wasnt enough because after all, I was your boy & even though youd say I didnt deserve it youd smile, laugh & hand me a couple hundred dollar bills you pulled out of shoe box from the basement. Your witty & playful sense of humor didnt end there. You would always remind me you would add it to my tab thats now in the thousands & smile & give me the biggest hug. I remember one year we went up to Waitsfield on my birthday. That birthday will always be special to me. It was the last trip we'd take where you still had pep in your step. Pop, tomorrow Ill be 27 years old but, it will be my first birthday without you reminding me how special I am and how much you love me. I didnt ask for anything from anyone this year. If I could ask for one gift for my birthday tomorrow it would be just a few minutes to spend sitting on your back porch soaking up the sun and talking about how someday Ill find a special girl to spend my life with, just like you found my mema. When I was 19 years old you knew my biggest secret, in fact to this day only a couple people other than you know. We were on the topic & you asked, "have you decided between Ryan & Collin being your best man". I quickly told you I decided it would be you. You smiled big & said you'd be honored. Im starting to see the honor would have been mine. Anyways, I love you Pop. Thanks again for another great year. Cant wait till we can chat again soon.
With love,
Always 'your boy', Brett โค๏ธ