Goodbye Letter
Dear Charlie, May 1, 2016
I decided to write you a letter because I never got to say goodbye. There are a few things I wanted you to know and I don't think I ever got the chance to tell you. Most importantly, I was proud to be your sister. There were the obvious reasons like you being the high school valedictorian, graduating from Stanford, and always working out like a professional athlete in the many sports you excelled in. You were good at so many things and made them all look easy. I feel like I could have taken credit for some of it because when you were born, I felt like a mini mom to you. I wanted to be the older, wiser sister, show you that ways of the world, and tame the wild child. Or at least, teach you proper table manners which I sadly, was never able to do. So many times I would sigh and say, “you look like you were raised by wolves” when watching you at the dinner table.
I never got to tell how much I enjoyed the quiet moments with you. How I would look forward to all the times you would come stay at my house. I would always try and have your favorite foods, extra towels and fresh batteries in the tv remotes. We would spend hours watching some of the best and worst movies of all times, followed by lengthy discussions on how we could have changed and improved each film. I enjoyed being your home away from home when you were in the Bay Area, even if it was for laundry and meal service.
I was always impressed by your strength not only physically but mentally. When your grandmother Dorothy was in her final days, you were with her around the clock tending to her every need and stayed strong for your mom, you were her rock and always able to support the ones that needed you most.
I was warmed by watching your relationship with dad, truly his best friend in many ways. You brought dad joy and companionship whether at the office, on the slopes, sailing at the lake or discussing each play of a 49er game.
Most of all, I never got to thank you. You brought so many smiles to my face. Laughing together, often from one of your sarcastic remarks was pure entertainment. You were so charming that you even talked your way out of a moving violation when I was the one driving and took a wrong left turn.
I wanted to thank you for all the hours you played on the beach with my kids. Showed them how fun eating crazy foods could be including their favorite which was butter fried shrimp tails, not the shrimp, just the tail.
I was the most proud of watching you become a loving and fun dad. Eli and Ava are the best of the very best of you. Everyone here will keep your memory alive for them so they can know you the way we did. Thank you for teaching us all how to never stop playing, inventing new games, and making silly cool again.
I was lucky to have had you as my brother.
You will never be out of mind just because you are out of site. I love you!!