New York Times staff submissions

I loved my Aunt Leslie more than anyone. She taught me how to ride a bike, cook, and have fun. She felt closer to a parent figure than my actual parents did, and I wish I still had contact with her. “I’m right here,” she promised as she held onto my bike seat. I started pedaling, later turning to make sure that she was still there. I panicked when she was several feet away. I quickly swung both...

When I was younger my grandpa built a camp in the woods for our family to stay the night at. When we are driving through the woods and I see the trees I think of my grandpa because he is a logger. My grandpa and I are very close relationship-wise because when I was younger we did so much together like camping, fishing, and more. I think relationships between different generations are unique because...

My Uncle and I have always been close since I was young. My Uncle Tracey always treated me kind and this is one of the many reasons I always felt so close to my Uncle. Ever since I \ was around the age of 9 he would always let me drive and ride in the back of his truck. He still owns this truck now, and it will always be something that reminds me of him. I believe that our bond is so strong even though...

I’ve always been close to my mom because she’s always been there. The color blue reminds me of her since it’s her favorite color. When I was seven, my mom and I rode the Dumbo ride together. I flew the elephant so high that she screamed, “Get me off this ride,” while I cackled. My mom is from a simpler generation, so she has given me more patience. I believe that talking to people from different...

Me and my dad have a close connection; our relationship is full of laughter, happiness and lots of fun. Relationships with people from other generations are very unique in many ways. For example, my dad opens my eyes to new things and he is a lot more knowledgeable than people in my generation. Something that reminds me of my dad is old-school cars and any pretty scenery that has lakes, creeks or...

My closest connection was with my grandpa; I called him “Pop.” Our relationship was simple: we easily understood each other without having to explain ourselves. My grandpa was a man of few words; he would often reply with a grunt or a look. Having this close relationship with my grandpa was like having a relationship with a historian; that’s why I believe it’s vital to have relationships with...

My closest connection was with my grandpa; I called him “Pop.” Our relationship was simple: we easily understood each other without having to explain ourselves. My grandpa was a man of few words; he would often reply with a grunt or a look. Having this close relationship with my grandpa was like having a relationship with a historian; that’s why I believe it’s vital to have relationships with...

When I was seven years old, I hung out with my grandpa every day. At the time, I was interested in ballet, and he supported me. He took me to my practices and cheered me on. Although I eventually quit ballet, he still endorsed my other hobbies, such as drawing. He kept a drawer with crayons and paper for me, put dates on my pictures and saved them. I still have the stack of drawings I made when he...