My Uncle Patrick recently passed away and I wrote this letter in tribute to him.

Hi Uncle Patrick,

Understanding that you will never read this, I still wanted to write you this letter to let you know how much I will miss you. Throughout my life, in the back of my mind, I have known how fortunate I am. I don’t mean this in the #blessed sense or someone winning a Grammy kind of way. I am fortunate because I was lucky enough to be born into the family that I have. When I picture myself in my mind’s eye, there are always four adults behind me. My mom, my dad, Aunt Judy, and you. And for the life of me, I can’t imagine there being just three. Yes, I know you will always be with us and I know that you impacted my life in ways, but not seeing you again in this life is, right now, heartbreaking.

Growing up, you were always a little out there, testing the boundaries. And it is at this point I could write about how you changed my thinking in many areas, helped me to question things, and how you believed in me way before I ever believed in myself. But do you know what I will remember the most? I will remember when I could make you laugh. You would get this look on your face, like Claire… and it always warmed my heart because your eyes would get this twinkle that just made me smile. That is what I will miss the most. That sparkle in your eyes when you would laugh. 

Thank you Uncle Patrick for always pushing me to get out into the world, for always being there for me, for constantly helping me to question and think, and most of all, just thank you for believing in me and giving me the confidence that I needed to pack up and move across the world to see what is out there.  

Now you are on a new adventure. But just remember that you will always be in my heart and therefore, always standing behind me. I love you Uncle Patrick.

Your niece,
Claire