A letter from Nana...

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Dear Zach, another year has passed, reminding me that it has now been nine long years since we last saw you. As sad as that thought is, we are a resilient and loving family that has since seen many happy milestones shared with friends and loved ones. 


Your brother went to two proms, his Senior Ball and the Junior Prom of his then girlfriend. He struggled but graduated high school, has worked his way up in Safeway and continues to impress his managers and coworkers. He turned 18 and then 21, becoming the most amazing young man we know. He has many friends and is following his love of music every day. You are missing out on your brother and sharing these experiences with him and I am sad for you.


Your mother continues to find success with Wells Fargo, has earned two technical certifications and more importantly she is with a wonderful man whom she loves and he is devoted to her. She celebrated her 50th milestone birthday with friends and family on the San Francisco Bay, has just moved into a beautiful new home and is making a wonderful life with Jeff. You did not witness or take part in any of these things…opportunities to get to know the man that Jeff is and what he has brought to this family in terms of love and support. You have also missed the love of your mother and the closeness you two once had with each other and still could have. Cody has stepped up to fill that void and their relationship is very close due to the struggles each has had to endure. It’s sad that you don’t know this love.


Then there’s us. Not sure if you remember your Nana and Granddad, but we have always been and continue to be happy to be alive in this world, happy to be healthy and have the love of family around us. We are very busy in our retirement but when special occasions, milestones and holidays come around; we are all together and bonded. Perhaps because we understand loss and treasure what we do have. Your Granddad turned 80 last summer and I will cross that bridge this April. We have been married for over 60 years and your Uncle Gregg and your mom put a wonderful video of memories together with songs and sayings. It was very touching and yes, hard to watch when the pictures of you glowed onto the screen, but it was full of stories of our amazing journey to the here and now; from making our way to this country, to raising our two children, from not only our English heritage but the one we have carved out in California. Yes, we are extremely lucky and it is unfortunate that you have chosen to exclude yourself from that. Sometimes we are sad, but we are sadder for you, the choices you have made and what you are missing. 


I hope that one day these things will start to mean something to you, that you will want to be a part of this family again because you need to be. Whenever that may be, if ever that may be, we will be here, with open arms and hearts full of love for you.


Love,

Nana

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