As this day comes around again—the one that changed my life forever—I find myself thinking of you more than ever, Bubs.
Time has moved on, but the space you left has never really been filled. Instead, it’s become something else: a place where your voice still echoes, where your lessons still guide me, and where your love continues to shape the man I’ve become.
I didn’t fully understand it back then, but I do now—you were always teaching me. In the quiet moments, in your laughter, and in the way you carried yourself, you showed me what it meant to be strong, resilient, and yes… stubborn when it mattered. And I carry that with me every day. The way I face life, the way I stand my ground, the way I look after the people I love—that’s you, still guiding me.
I just wish you could see it. I wish you could see the life that’s grown from everything you gave me.
You would have loved your great-grandchildren—Ted, and Luca. I see so much life in them, the kind you had. I imagine you laughing with them, teaching them your ways, and passing on that same strength and stubborn determination. It’s hard knowing they won’t get to meet you, but I promise they will know you—through stories, through memories, and through me.
Because everything you were didn’t disappear—it lives on in us.
Thank you, Bubs, for your love, your guidance, and for making me who I am today.
Miss you. Always will.
Luke
05/05/2026
