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nearly choked from the humidity. It didn't take me long to realize either, I wouldn't be making new friends anytime soon. Our nearest neighbor was more than half a mile away.

Mom quickly found a job as a short-order cook. While she worked, I stayed home with music as my only form of entertainment. That, and waiting for the mailman. We didn't have a telephone but I hoped my grandparents would write us soon. I wasn't even sure though, if mom had put a return address on the letter she mailed. I could have asked her but if she said no, then what I do other than waiting for the mail?

Two weeks had gone by since we arrived in Texas. Not only had we not received a letter from my grandparents, we hadn't even received any junk mail. On day sixteen however, grandpa did send a message. It didn't come written on paper or in any typical fashion for that matter. The message was delivered from one soul, to another.

It was a Friday. November 7, 1986. I was blaring my music and singing loudly when mom unexpectedly arrived home early from work. She didn't appear to be feeling very well. Her skin was pale and her eyes were droopy. Mom reached down, turned off my music, sat on the couch and somberly said "come sit down, I need to talk to you." I didn't like the sound in her voice and I suddenly felt very nervous.

"What's wrong?" My voice quivered and I feel the look of puzzlement on my face. "I just need you to listen for a minute okay" mom replied. I nodded and began to feel a bit nauseous. "While I was at work today and stood there chopping onions, I suddenly felt a strange sensation jolt through my body, like something bad had happened. I dropped my knife and ran to the phone."

I didn't interrupt, but suddenly I felt tears welling up in my eyes without even hearing the rest of the news. Mom continued with a sigh, "I felt like I needed to call your grandma, so I did. She said she had been trying to find a way to reach me all morning." Mom then grabbed my hand, delivering the dreadful news I had already begun to anticipate, "Your grandpa passed away during the night."

"NO!" I screamed as loud as I could without hesitation. I screamed it again as I pushed mom away making an attempt to run, unsure of which direction I should head. Mom grabbed me and tried to hold me tight. I gave in, falling limp into her arms, "I didn't get to say goodbye, I didn't get to say good-bye ... " I heard myself sobbing those words repeatedly.

"Dear Dad, By the time you read this my daughter and I will

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