This is perhaps the only actual letter I ever received from “Nana from Florida” – Anna S. Albanese – my maternal grandmother. She’d send me greeting cards all the time, but never with much more than her signature and a word or two.

4792 S. Ridgewood #215
Port Orange, FL 32127
Dear David,

Here I sit in your Mom’s office on Thursday, Nov. 21, 1991 at 3:55 P.M.

I’m having some copies of my newsletter printed because my copier is on the fritz again.

The other day I made the mistake of telling your Mom that I had not written to you in a long time, so, today, while I’m waiting for my copies, I asked your Mom if she heard from you and she kindly handed me a pad and asked me if I didn’t want to write you, so here I am.

Pretty soon you will be home for Thanksgiving and you probably won’t receive this letter much before then, but I can at least let you know that after all these years and in spite of everything, I still love you.

I’m sorry for what I did to you the week that you had your teeth pulled. I can’t even say that I don’t know why I acted that way, because I do know.

When my children are hurt, I feel the pain more deeply than they do, so, therefore, your Mom was hurting and of course the only available target was you.

That’s all in the past now, and I will try never to do it again. (At least I will try)

Are you keeping up the good work? Just do the best that you can and everything else will fall in to place.

Relax and enjoy every minute you can at college, and be nice to everyone. You will never regret being nice (I don’t mean to be a sissy) because goodness always comes back to you.

Ok, well, here I go preaching but then, can you tell me what else grandmother’s are for?

I love you lots and I always will, because you are my grandson, but above and beyond that you have grown to be one hell of a guy and I know that Papa would be popping his buttons over the fact that you have gone this far.

Remember, he only went as far as the 8th grade and he did not turn out to be too bad, did he?

Enough stuff and nonsense. I still love you lots!

Nana from Florida