Dear Family
Hi Mom, hi Papa, hi Jonny. It's been awhile since we just talked, hasn't it? By the time you read this, I'll be away in Irvine, but know that through thick and thin, I always loved you. I remember when I was in kindergarten and I cried when you dropped me off at school. Now, it's probably gonna be the other way around. You're probably gonna cry after I'm all moved in. But don't worry, I'll be back home soon. Thanksgiving will come soon enough and I'll be there with you like I always have the past 17 years. You've taken care of me all these years and you've affected me so much. That small chubby baby that you birthed is now grown up and entering the real world. That little boy who cried a lot in elementary school is now one of the strongest people, at least emotionally, that you know in your life. That shy and awkward teenager who barely talked to anyone including family is now looking forward to meeting hella people, especially his family he hasn't seen before. Your oldest son is moving on and moving out, but I'll keep you in my mind even when we're miles apart. People who have met me have told me that I'm one of the nicest people that they know. I would never have been that nice if it wasn't for how you raised me. You taught me to be generous, be open-minded, and to be nice to everyone. Without your guidance and support, I probably wouldn't be where I am right now. Thanks for teaching me how to read, how to write and how to speak. Thanks for supporting me in everything I did, whether it be sports or school. Thanks for pushing me to do better every time I tried something so that I would strive to be the best in everything I did. Thanks for cooking breakfast every morning and thanks for cooking dinner every night. Thanks for letting my friends come over and making them feel like they were members of the family every time they visited. Thanks for providing me with food, support, care, advice, transportation, money, a home and most importantly, love. Thanks for always loving me even when we argued or fought. Thanks for always reminding me of all that you do for me and thanks for reminding me of how much you loved me even at my saddest moments. Mom, thanks for driving me to school most of the days and dealing with my sleepiness most mornings. Thanks for teaching me to respect women and to respect you, since I won't have another mom after you. I know you tend to get emotional, but you just show that you're passionate about things you love, including me. I always believed that you were born on Valentine's Day to teach me about love and you have never stopped loving me since the day I was born. I love you and thank you. Papa, I know we were, at times, distant from each other, but thank you for showing me tough love. You showed me that things don't always come easy and that you have to work hard for what you get. Even though you sometimes told me to sleep when you left for work, it always reminded me of how hard you worked for our family. Thank you for exposing me to soccer and letting me bond with you through sports. I know it's gonna be a little quiet around the house without me watching sports and telling you about all the games that are on TV, but I always told you about that because I wanted you to watch with me. Thanks for teaching me about what it means to be a man and that manhood isn't always defined by toughness and strength, but also involves courage, sacrifice and love. I love you and thank you. Jonny, I know you sometimes got on my nerves and that you sometimes annoyed me, but you always reminded me of why I always wanted a brother. You're fearless and don't always think before you open your mouth, but I would rather have you be like that then shy like me when I was that age. I remember when you were born and I used to be a little jealous of all the attention you got. Then when we got older you would sometimes watch me play video games and would always root for me whenever I was playing with friends. Now you're in 4th grade and I'm moving off to college, but I'm gonna miss you. I'm gonna miss how you would try to scare Mom and how you would pretend to sleep in front of our parents. Even though you're sometimes a little lazy when you're doing your homework, just tell Mom and Papa that I asked them to be patient with you. You might just think differently than I do and they have to realize that you're not me and that only I could be me. You're you and I wouldn't have you any other way. I love you and thank you. Bye Mom. Bye Papa. Bye Jonny. I'll see you soon.