Letter to Gram from Stapleton — Aurora, Colorado

Dear Gram: 

It’s been awhile since I wrote. I know, you’d be happy if I wrote you a letter every day but you understand when sometimes it’s a week or more between letters. I use my letters, you know, to understand what’s been going on in my life myself as well as to share it with you. I guess it’s from all those summer nights when we shared a room. I don’t know that I appreciated you then as much as I should have. I’m sorry. It’s kind of embarrassing, my own grandmother and all. The best I can say is that I was just a kid, kind of annoying, a little bossy and one who thought she knew everything. If only …. I put Stapleton up there. That’s the name of the housing district where we live. It used to be the airport and I flew into the airport for work so often. It was in north Denver then and I used to joke that it took as long to get from home to the airport as it did from the airport to whatever hotel had been picked for our meeting. The name is controversial. I won’t go into it, but it’s going away.  The name, that is. Work. I liked what I did, Gram. I thought I helped make a difference. That’s what I needed. To make a difference. I remember what you said about books. I still read three different kinds of books each day though I kind of mix them up from what you recommended and I’ve expanded what I think of as books to nurture my soul. A few lately have dinged it. Oh, Gram, there is so much going on that’s so sad. We have an awful President. I know, you’d say that awful doesn’t tell you anything. That if I want to complain  I need to be specific. Use words that say what I want to say. He’s mean, Gram. He’s been mean to people. He isn’t trying to bring the country together. I think he’s trying to tear us apart. He says things that aren’t true. I need to stop. Thinking of him, just makes me look forward to the next election. It’s the election that’s going to make the difference, get him out of office. I hope. But where are all the younger men and women? Gram, we haven’t had a woman president yet. I don’t understand what’s wrong with our country. What is it with these old, white guys!? Well, enough of that. I remember how you didn’t gain weight. I wish I could remember your secret. Was it that you didn’t eat a lot? Portion control? That’s my failing. I love food. I love the taste of it, but I’ve been working hard to keep it off. The weight, I mean. I found  a recipe for a fake ice cream made with bananas. Always bananas and another fruit or something interesting. I love it and so does Bill.You’d like Bill, Gram. It’s funny when I think that you met David. We did get married and were married for nearly 25 years. I waited a long time for him to change when I think about it. But he didn’t and I just gave up. Bill and I have been married ten years. He’s been so good to me. We’ve got this pandemic going on now. Like the one in 1918 with the Spanish flu. Mom was born that year. I’m really glad she made it or I wouldn’t be here now. Well, Gram, I think of you so much. I’m glad you got to see pictures of Grant. Ryan came along a few years later. And they both have kids. It’s been a happy life. I know you and Mom must get together often up there and probably Aunt Lucile, too. Later, Love, Karen