Dear Mom-mom and Pop-o,

You know, just yesterday, my dad called my sisters and me into our living room and said that there was something he wanted to show us. With a bright smile and tears in his eyes, he revealed a picture of both of you. Every time he talks about either of you his face lights up, and he animatedly talks about all of the adventures you took together when he and his siblings were younger.

Mom-mom, I am so glad that I spent my younger years learning from you and getting to know you. I have always looked up to you, and I cherish the time we spent together. I still remember all those times that you snuck me some M&Ms and said, “Shhh! Don’t tell mommy and daddy!” At five years old, I always thought that it was such a big secret. I dutifully kept it from my parents until one day my dad said to me, “Syd, you do know that we knew about the M&Ms right?” To which I responded, “What! Really?” My dad laughed and replied, “Syd, we knew every time.” 

Pop-o, I wish I could have met you. But even though I didn’t, I feel like I have. Through the stories, the memories, and the secret family recipes, I get to know you just a little bit more. One of my favorite stories is that whenever you took a road trip with my dad and his siblings, you would always pass a Dairy Queen. Every time the questions that followed were “Can we stop?” Cleverly, you replied with, “On the way home.” Because you knew something they didn’t. When they asked if you could stop on your way home, you would always say, “Sorry guys, it’s on the wrong side of the road.” And whenever my family takes a long drive, my dad makes sure to continue the tradition.

Thank you both for everything that you have done, and for being such amazing role models for grandma, my dad, his siblings, and now my cousins, my sisters, and me. I love you both.

– Sydney Rubin