Hello my angels Penelope and Mikaela.
Remember that time I told you to tell somebody if you were sad?
Well, today I am writing you because I am sad.
I was hoping not to have to write this letter to you guys for a while. Like at least twenty years, when you could maybe understand all this a little better.
My sweet girls, your Grandma Annie had to leave.
She got very sick very fast, and went to the hospital, that place with the doctors and nurses that do lots of good work with not enough sleep and not enough people saying thank you.
But I thanked the doctors and nurses at the Grey Nuns Hospital, and I think of them every day. Because I was there when Grandma Annie told the doctors and nurses she wanted them to do everything to help her get better. And I promise you, my girls. They tried. They really tried. And for a while it looked like they might be succeeding. Because your Grandma Annie had incredible drive and gumption, and when she set her mind to something, she usually did it, whether it was doing research on her ancestors or helping out family or friends. When the doctors were wheeling her away to try and fix her, she wanted to make sure they knew how much she appreciated what they were trying to do to help her, by making gestures and writing on a pad.
But it is a sad fact of life that Grandma Annie's gumption and drive, that thing that made her the wonderful person she was, was inside something called a body, which is a machine that allows people to run, jump, talk, dance and do all kinds of things. And sometimes, no matter how well we take care of our bodies, they start to break down before we want them to. And that is what happened to Grandma Annie, even though she was very good at taking care of her body. If you can't understand that right now, that's all right. Because to be honest, I can't either.
But there is some hope, my girls. Just like the memory balls in Inside Out, you will always have your memories of Grandma Annie to make you feel better. Your memories might be a little fuzzy, but here's the good news. You have a ton of pictures and videos to help you remember, and lots of family to ask for stories. Whether it's your mom, dad, me, Auntie Shawna, Grandpa Jim, Grandpa Paul or any number of aunts, uncles, or cousins in any side of our family, we will do our best to keep Grandma Annie's memory alive for you. Penelope, I know you will always remember this:
And who's that on Grandma's shoulder? That's right, it's you Mikaela!
It will continue to be a tough time for a while, Penelope and Mikaela. But we will all get through it together, with the help of family, and friends. Boy, did you guys luck out with the group you were born into! There will always be someone to share a laugh or hug with, or to just be there for you
I want to thank you in advance for reading this letter, and I want you to know that writing it has helped me be a little less sad. Because Grandma Annie was to me and your mom what your mom is to you guys. And as you both grow up, if you want to have an argument about some little thing, consider not doing it. Because you'll want to remember the good times, and both your parents love you so much, as do Auntie Shawna and me. And I know that your Grandma Annie was extremely proud of you both! She told me so. And as long as you both remember her, she'll never really be gone.
I love you Penelope and Mikaela!
Uncle Mike
