When I was younger, we were never lost. In your words, we were just on a lovely, lovely car ride to our destination. As technology improved, our lovely, lovely car rides became less of an occurrence; unless, we disagreed with the GPS…
… Or were covered bridging without GPS connectivity. I didn’t know that our last adventure together would be on our family’s most treasured activity. I thought, hoped, and longed for the difficulties of the last year to be in the rear-view mirror.
I know you did too as you put on the strongest face ever, when you came down to Urbana-Champaign and visited us as soon as you could after the surgery to celebrate your brief remission with a summer concert at the rose bowl tavern.
I’m happy that you were able to visit our new home and have a wonderful Turkish breakfast. I like to think that this breakfast gave you the strength to persevere as long as you did, but I know the real reason was because of the family.
I’m happy that I was able to share my journey with you at our alma mater.
I’m happy that you cared and saw my new life.
I’m sorry that we never had our fabled trip to Hawaii together. The chorus of: Next year… Next year… Next year… Next year feels so far away now.
I’m sorry you will never get a chance to be the best grand-aunt that I know you would be.
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more.
I’m sorry.
Though, I know you wouldn’t want me to be sorry, nor even spend time writing this. Instead, you would be pushing me to go on one of your grand adventures and have another lovely, lovely car ride…