Dear President Obama
I am writing you today on March 2, 2016. If my grandmother were alive, she would be one hundred years old today. She had looked forward to this day since at least her eightieth birthday. She was aware that one receives a personal letter from their president on one’s hundredth birthday. She passed away back in 2012, at the age of ninety six, four years before she would receive her centenarian letter from you. As a last rite of sorts, I find myself writing you this letter.
My grandmother epitomized American grit. She was born and raised on a ranch in rural Colorado. She milked cows. Churned butter. Herded cattle on horseback. Killed rattlesnakes. She built her home in Eastern Washington, and her lake cabin nail by nail. When my grandfather grew ill with ALS, she cared for him, and took over his postal route. After his death in 1963, she headed the household. Held multiple jobs. Cared for elderly women and needy people in her community. Saved like a mad-woman.
She was committed to her own education and went to school by horse and cart. She excelled in school, but was not able to attend college… because: the depression. College was a must for her children and grandchildren though. She was relentlessly thrifty and wasted nothing. Her good sense, tenacity and commitment to family sent all of her children to college, and provided for her grandchildren as well.
Her fortitude as a woman rubbed off on all who knew her… especially my mother who became a powerhouse in her career as a social worker, State administrator, and humanitarian through-and-through. With their support, and as my examples, I am about to complete the education and launch the career of my dreams. I will graduate with a Master of Public Health and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning this June. And I have already fulfilled several of my dreams – working for the United Nations (in Nairobi last year during your visit) and helping urban communities in the developing world prepare for climate change (currently working/studying in Vietnam). These achievements and the next forty exciting years of my career/life: all thanks to them… especially thanks to her.
2008 was the last election my grandmother voted in – and it was my first. My mother and I were (are) diehard for you. My grandmother didn’t care. She said it was us who would inherent the consequences of the election… and she would be gone (she gave us her vote for you). She did care deeply about one issue on the ballot that year – death with dignity. It stood to affect her. Her friends. Relatives. The people she had spent a lifetime helping. She believed it was the merciful, humanitarian thing to do. She had me help her with her ballot to make sure that her vote counted. I think she did this in part to teach me about civic responsibility. I find myself thinking about the 2008 election often- especially since you are leaving office and because of the centenarian letter from you she will never receive... I think about your campaign “Hope”. You inspired us to hope then, and if anything my hope has grown. I have an incredible amount of in myself and other young people around the world who strive to make a difference. My ability to make a difference derives from my education and grit: my grandma's legacy.
Alive in spirit and one hundred years old today.
Respectfully yours
An eternally loving grandaughter
