Dear Gramma...

By this point, you won't be able to read this in person. I wish I had written this earlier so you could've seen it. But, maybe once you've unpacked all your belongings in your new apartment up in heaven, your spirit will be able to take one last trip down here to read this good-bye letter.
I really don't know where to start with this. There's so much I want to say, but nowhere to begin. My mom has told me so many stories about the day I was born, and how happy you and Pa were to finally have your first grandchild. And then you were blessed with seven more! You got to watch us grow up, teach us new things, tell us stories, play with us... so many good memories.
One thing I'll always remember is all the sleep-overs we had at your house. We would always go out for dinner, watch a movie, play games, and we always had so much fun! Then, when we woke up, you'd make us breakfast; I always asked for your home-made pancakes, or waffles. (That's another thing I'll never forget; your cooking!)
Spending holidays with you was always so much fun, especially Christmas! After Mike, jack, and I had opened all our presents from Santa, we could hardly wait to get in the car, and head up to your house. We had a little breakfast there, talked for a bit, and then (drum-roll please) PRESENT TIME! The presents you got us were always the best ones. (besides the ones from Santa, of course) You were such a generous person. I used to always think to myself "Man, if she has enough money to get me this, how come she doesn't just buy herself a mansion?"
You somehow always managed to stay in a great mood. Every time we came up to visit, you'd always have a big smile on your face. It's almost as if it was hard-wired into your brain that you couldn't ever be in a bad mood! You made jokes (that reminds me; I'll miss your home-made, moldy lemonade too!), and laughed at mine. You spoiled me and my cousins like crazy!!! You just always knew how to make us smile.


But, as they say, all good things come to an end. I can't begin to describe how much I'll miss you, and love you, and I know you love me too. I could see it on your face when I came to visit you for the last time a couple days ago. I walked in, you were sleeping, and Aunt Joan gently woke you up, and said, "Ryan, Jack, and Michael are here to see you." You're face seemed to brighten up so much, and so quickly! I held your hand for a while, feeling how warm it was. That assured me that you were still here with us... at least for the moment.
When Dad gave me the news I was speechless. I didn't cry, but only because I had prepared myself for this. I would have cried if I could, but I just didn't have the urge. I just knew you were finally in a better place, not struggling, or suffering. It'll take a while for all of us to adjust to this huge change, but we'll eventually adapt to it, and never forget how it used to be. You were the only grandmother I ever had, and I'm glad you were willing to take the job. I couldn't ask for a better Gramma.
Someday, we'll all tell Ava and Mia about you, and how much you loved them, and all the things you did for them. Obviously, they're too young right now to comprehend what's going on, but I just know that they know that you love them so much, just like you loved all of your other grandchildren.
You were so strong, fighting off this cancer. Five whole years you were able to last! Your nurses said they've never seen anyone live that long with the disease you had. But, it finally got the best of you, and no one can blame you. You put up quite a fight, and you just got a little too tired out. But, hey, we've all gotta go sometime, right?


They say that one day your life will flash before your eyes, and that you should make it worth watching. I'm willing to bet that whatever flashed before your eyes could have made an academy-award winning movie. I'm glad that I got to be part of it.


I love you, Gramma. We all do, and we always will. Someday, we'll all be together again. Save some room in your heaven-apartment for us, okay? We'll all think of you every day, and know that you're looking down on us, smiling, thinking "Wow, look what I've started!"
One, big, happy family.
And do you know why I know all this?
Because I love you.


Your first, oldest, loving grandson,
~Ryan.

Sweet Georgia Brown

Last Sunday the family and I went to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the TD Garden.
Calling it exciting would be an understatement.

The trip to Boston started off on a high note; we saw a dead black cat on the side of the highway, which either meant that the day wasn't going to have any bad luck, or there are some pretty reckless drivers out there. (I'm guessing it was the first one; that day was pretty awesome, as you'll soon see) Then, I noticed a "Student-Driver" car ahead of us, and as we drove by it, I saw an old man (no younger than sixty-five) driving it. I guess he just couldn't stand sitting at home any longer, watching Bonanza re-runs. Either that, or he was embarrassed to realize his wife knew that he didn't have a driver's license.

So, after about an hour of listening to Green Day on my iPod in the car, the TD Garden came into view. Finally, I could escape the clutches of that red Toyota Camry, that had me stuck next to my little brats- er, brothers, for all that time.
Inside the Garden was pretty cool; big pictures of Celtics, and Bruins pictures all around us. (including one of John Cena, from when the WWE came to preform here) We traveled up two sets of escalators, walked past some souvenir stands (where my brothers and I each bought our own Harlem Globetrotters basketballs), and then came to the entrance to the court.
Looking down on it, it seemed just like it did on TV; big, shiny, the big, green Celtics logo painted in the middle. But, as we moved farther down towards our seats, the court began to seem smaller than I'd recalled from the games I'd watched back at home. I guess television makes things seem bigger than they appear. (much like the side-mirrors on cars... except those show things "closer than they appear". You know what I meant)

As for our seats: only two rows away from the court! I could have literally taken one step from where my seat was, and would've been standing on the court. Everything was in better-than-perfect view! (a HUGE thank-you to Gramma and Pa for those tickets. Love you, guys!)
Almost as soon as we took our seats, a guy in a Globetrotters tee-shirt came over, and asked my little brothers if they'd like to be part of a Slam-Dunk Contest, for the pre-game show. I couldn't take part because of my immense, 14-year-old-boy height, and the fact that they would be using a kiddie-hoop. The winners of the contest would receive an official Harlem Globetrotters wristband (it turned out all of the contestants got one, because at the Globetrotters, "everyone's a winner"), but the guy tossed me one anyway. (another big thank-you to that random Globetrotters dude, wherever he is!)

My brothers ended up getting to go out on the court for that, but I could care less; I was close enough to the court to smell it. (figuratively, of course. The last thing I need is to catch a whiff of all the basketball-player sweat on that floor. Although, maybe if I had smelled it, I would've been blessed with the almighty slam-dunk powers that Kevin Garnett has) (below; You can just see the excitement on jack's face)

So, then the game began. The Globetrotters took the stage, showing off their ball-handling skills, and warming up for the game with some trick-shots, and alley-oops, and dunks, and spins, and passes- I'd explain it all in detail, but it'd end up looking like a jumble here on this blog, because it all happened so quickly, so effortlessly, describing it would be almost impossible.

Although I will say that the final play of the game was my favorite; one of the 'Trotters, "Blenda", stood out on the three-point line, facing the other side of the court. Without even glancing at the hoop, he tossed the ball high over his head, and as it came down near the basket, another 'Trotter leaped up, caught the ball, dunked it in the net, and hung there for a good ten seconds. All of that happened in three seconds, just before the buzzer went off.
They were just as hilarious as they were good at basketball. One of the players on the opposing team was making a jump-shot, and as he jumped up, one of the 'Trotters tore the clothes right off the guy- pants, jersey, and all (except for the underwear), and the guy ran off court in his boxers, humiliated.
It was hilarious.
After all the puns were said, and the dunks were made, the game came to an end, and we headed out to the parking garage, to our car. It was the best show I've ever seen in my life, and something I'll never forget.

Yours in awesomeness,
~Ry.