You would burst into Michael and Tutu's yellow cottage and instantly shout out in the cutest, most bossy pants voice ever "Michael??? Tutu??" and it cracked us all up every time.
You always rubbed noses Polynesian style with Michael.
Your level of expressiveness and incredible vocabulary made Michael smile and laugh so much.
You spent every Sunday your first few years spending the day with Michael and Tutu while I taught. It was your special time with your grandparents. They would take you out to breakfast, or Starbucks, or Hawi, or the playground, or on walks through the nature park "huge jungle".
Michael cherished the times I dropped you off at his house alone so he could have 100% one on one time with just you and him. After a hard day of playing, sometimes I would walk in and find you sitting on a cozy chair watching TV eating a popsicle. My favorite memory is when I was driving to the store and I saw you up on Michaels shoulders going out for a stroll together.
Michael was determined to always teach you something new each time he saw you, and couldn't wait to see how much knowledge you could absorb. Sometimes, though, he'd teach you things like how to open the tall cupboard doors from the bottom and it ended up making things more challenging for mama/tutu! But it sure was fun seeing how much you could remember!
Sometimes you saved your Mr. Big Ones just for Michael. I was so proud that he knew how to change your diaper!! That was true love!
Michael and Tutu were able to pick you up from school in October. You must have told EVERYONE they were coming and you were so proud. When they showed up, everyone said "Are you Michael and Tutu??" like they were celebrities.
I have sent Michael, Tutu, Poppy, and Grandma Lama a daily picture or video of you since birth.
Michael knew so many quotes, and songs, and little sayings and quips. He always sang "There were birds all around" and recited poems and songs like "The Hendersens will all be there, it'll be second to none" and a Dr. Seuss quote about going past the alphabet Z. I wish I wrote them all down.
Michael always found the good in people. He never spoke poorly of anybody to you or me. He loved Sadie and Jenna. And he wrote you a letter since he knew his time with you was now so limited.
Michael was afraid of how old he was going to be when you graduated high school. But now it makes me cry to see how little we all knew about age and time. It is the hardest thing, to watch someone so strong and resilient, someone who I joked had regenerative lizard DNA and always "grew back", get so sick so fast, but I am so grateful he was able to write you a letter for you to have the rest of your life. And that I had the chance to hold his hand, kiss him, and tell him how much it has meant to me to be his daughter in law and mother of his most beloved grandchild.
Other things I know you will always remember:
Michael loves pears
Michael loves bikes and canoes
Michael always makes horse and bird noises when he shows up
Michael and you would always "wrassle" on the futon mat.
Michael always built fires.
Michael grows beautiful orchids
Michael and you would bounce the ball off his roof and it would come rolling back down to you.
Michael always played with the hose and you would squirt him, and wash his car with him.
Michael always put you on his shoulders and took you on adventure walks.
Michael always let you explore his car.
Michael always said "Beautiful, beautiful, boy"
Michael has been very very sick with cancer the past few months. Everything has been happening very quickly, and nobody expected this to happen. You can sense that something is wrong. You are witnessing a lot of sadness and pain right now. Poppy and Grandma Lama have come out to help provide a small distraction during this horrible time. I wish more than anything this wasn't happening right now.
Michael wanted to spend every possible moment he could with you. He couldn't wait until he got to come up to Waimea, and the second he showed up in town he would call or text to see if you were awake and around for a play date. I've never seen anybody need to be around you as much or as badly as he wanted too. His soul couldn't exist without you. You are his absolute, most favorite person on this earth. And his incredible bond and inexplicable draw to you can be seen by everyone around. I'm positive he survived his bike accident 3 years ago because he was meant to meet you, love you, and know you. I wish so much that you had more time to be together. You two were old souls who had the chance to hold one another once again. I know you found each other. I know he will always be near you, and I hope as you grow you can always feel his love. I promise to always keep him alive in our hearts and minds.
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