In Honor of Gogo

Growing up, death always felt like something far away. It was one of those things I knew existed, but never thought would touch me so closely at least not yet. Life felt endless, and the people I loved most seemed like they would always be here.

When my grandma, my Gogo, passed away, that illusion broke. Suddenly, death wasn’t a far off thought it was real, it was near, and it hurt in a way I couldn’t have prepared for. She was such a steady part of my world, a quiet strength I thought I would have forever. Losing her left an emptiness I didn’t know how to fill.

I often think about the small things now. Like the picture she once gave me, asking me to frame it. I never did. It seemed like something I could always get around to later, but later never came. That memory stays with me, not as guilt, but as a reminder of how fleeting time really is.

That’s why I made this keychain in her honor. It’s more than just a charm it’s my way of remembering her, carrying her with me, and finally doing something with the picture she wanted me to keep safe. Every time I look at it, I feel closer to her, as if I’m keeping a piece of her spirit alive in my everyday life.

Death hurts, especially when it’s someone as close as a grandmother. But creating something in her memory has helped me turn that pain into love. This little charm is a reminder that she’s still with me, even if not in the way I once wished.