Hey There — It’s Been a Minute

Hey there! How have you been? Hope life’s been treating y’all well. It’s been a minute since I’ve done this. Honestly, I don’t even know where to start, so this one might be a little chaotic… my specialty.

Well, as you know, my Uncle Spike passed away in July. Damn, that was hard — still is. I’m still sad, but I’m starting to smile again. Thinking about the holidays and all the little ways he fits into them, ya know? He wasn’t one to stay long, but damn it if he didn’t make an impression while he was there.

Whether it was fighting with his brother over soccer or football, stealing my deviled eggs, or teasing Grandma about her age just low enough for her hearing aids to miss it — he always left a mark. Maybe it was me grabbing beers for him and my dad while he tried to hand one to Grandma. Or maybe it was that bear hug paired with a sarcastic, “I don’t even like you.” (I mean, I was his favorite niece.)

Anyway, I smile now when I think about him. That’s progress.

And then there’s Piper. God, I still cry thinking about her. That was my girl — my best friend, my first child. She shaped who I am today. Every decision, every late night, every rough day ended with the thought: who would take care of her if I didn’t? She kept me grounded in ways I didn’t even realize.

Piper always had this spark — even when she was sick. All she wanted was your food, your love, and maybe your beer if you weren’t paying attention. My thick girl knew how to eat, that’s for sure. She was funny, stubborn, and full of personality. And damn, I miss her every day.

They come in threes, right?

Bonnie — my dear Great Aunt Bonnie. This woman was crazy (LOL). In true fashion, the last time I saw her she had a beer in hand, saying, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.” She was my mom’s mom’s sister — and if you know my grandma, just think opposite. This woman was loud, full of jokes, and truly something special. She never turned down a good party or time with her family. She will be dearly missed.

And then, just yesterday, my Great Uncle Bob passed away. He was my mom’s dad’s brother — those Sullivan genes run deep, that’s for sure. He was another one who made an impression, whether it was five minutes or your whole life. Just imagining him up there with my Pappap and their dad… well, from the stories, please behave, guys.

Uncle Bob believed deeply in his faith but never pressured anyone to feel the same. He was kind, funny, and didn’t have to say much to make you smile.

With all of the loss, though, there have been smiles that have managed to sneak through.

My best friend got married to the love of her life. Being a part of that was nothing short of amazing. I’m so thankful to be in their world and to watch their family grow. Emily or Eric, if you’re reading this (which you should be — cough cough), I love y’all and thank you for allowing me to be Aunt WeeWee. (IYKYK.)

I’ve also been having a blast substituting. One of the coolest parts is that I get to work with my mom about 90% of the time — I get paid to hang out with my best friend. That’s super cool. Sure, there have been some challenging moments, but nothing I couldn’t handle or learn from. It’s given me a new appreciation for teachers — past, present, and future — and an even deeper respect for people in general.

You never know what someone’s going through or where they come from. So, be kind.

Overall, yeah — life has fucking life’d this year. And we still have a couple months left! But honestly, I’m feeling optimistic… or at least taking it day by day.

Anyway — thank you. Thank you for reading, for being here, and for letting me be a little chaotic. I appreciate you more than you know. 💛