'Til Death Do Us Part.

Dear Grandpa,

Last weekend the whole Konopacki family got together to celebrate Busha's 75th birthday -- old photos, close friends, good memories, polka dancing, laughter, tears, family…   Busha was so happy and so blessed that all of us could be there just for her.  

You would you have been so proud. 

I wanted more than anything for you to be there.  It just seemed fit.  Seeing you in so many pictures and hearing so many stories about you was nothing less than bitter sweet.  I miss your smiling face and gentle eyes.  I miss your jokes at dinner and your never-ending abilities to make me laugh.  I miss polka dancing in the garage to Polka Dan and Spike Jones.  I miss learning from you.  I miss you holding me, telling me everything will be alright.

When I was a little girl, I thought you were invincible -- you were my super hero.  You were perfect in my eyes.  I wanted to grow up and be just like you.  But here's the thing...I still do.  You are still invincible,  you are still my super hero. 

But life moves on, you know?  And it hurts, it hurts really bad.  I am afraid you are going to become just a faint memory, something that happened once upon a time.  I do not want the part of me that was with you to be pushed under the rug, like it never happened. 

But in my deepest of souls I know this could never happen.  I love you too much.

Your love for your wife, for your children, for your grandchildren -- for your family -- is still present today.  I now know the importance of family, and not just having one, but staying close, loving each other through thick and thin.  That's what I love about my family, our family.  You have established this need in all of us, children and grandchildren alike.  We want to spend time together, growing up and growing old together.  We love each other and always will.  We are family. 

So, thank you -- for more than we even know.

I can't wait to see you again, on that glorious day.  Until then, know that I love you and always will.  Because I knew you, I have been changed for the better, changed for good.

Love always,

Beth.