This morning my grandpa Leo passed away due to complications from pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. It’s weird to think about him missing from the world. In my mind he had achieved the status of a fixture, something that would always be there. My dad told me someone from the hospital said that there had never been as many visitors for another patient before, that was nice to hear. My grandpa was always making friends wherever he went. He had the gift for small talk that I also see in my dad. I think when we lose people, even outside of death, we tend to incorporate the things we like about them into our own lives as a way to remember them.

Today I made two friends at a service area in New Jersey while I ate lunch, they were both younger kids that worked there. They seemed pretty excited about my trip and that someone could even think to do something like it. I gave them the website so maybe they’ll see this—hi Toni and Paul!