This birthday card from my papa during my freshman year of college is something I’ve held onto ever since. College was such a new, overwhelming transition, and his words felt like a small anchor in all the change. He kept the message simple-just “Have a happy day”-but that simplicity made it feel even more like him: warm, steady, and genuinely heartfelt. It was the kind of encouragement that landed quietly but stayed with me.

Those 4 words became so meaningful that I eventually had them tattooed on me. Carrying his handwriting on my skin feels like keeping a part of him with me everyday, a reminder of his love and the way he always wanted the best for me. The card itself has aged, but the message has only grown more important, becoming a permanent piece of comfort and memory that I can return to whenever I need it.