The Patriots victory and their reclaiming of the world championship status, is gravely overshadowed by some extremely unfortunate happenings in my life.

My grandfather was rushed to the hospital late monday night. He has been bravely battleing lung cancer for the past six months. He was responding really well to the treatments but the cancer is spreading and he is currently in intensive care at Rhode Island Hospital.

Poppa, aka Edward A Zito, is the kind of man that makes you better just for knowing him. You say some people would give you the clothes off their backs, not my grandfather, skin and all are coming with them. He is a pillar of strength, nobility, kindheartedness, reason, reliability, intellect, and entertainment in my life and of my family's as well.

Countless stories have been shared at family gatherings, learning about the time before internet, cell phones and flying cars. Vivid characters that you only find in books movies now, like Jimmy Two Tires, Frankie the Moose and Angelo his Father.

I can remember countless nights as a kid, going out to the old tool shed where pop was putting together a book case or fixing a chair for somebody. I would just sit down with him for a few hours while he tinkered with tools, drills and hammers as he did alot of his life. We would just talk for hours, or he'd helped me with schoolwork, talked about some thing that was bothering me or I would just watch him as he hummed diddies from yesteryear.

There was never a situation where he didn’t know exactly what needed to be said to comfort … or even if it was “get your act together”. He is the main reason that I am the level headed, respectful, kind person I would like to believe myself to be.

The words I’m typing today still do not give him the credit he deserves for the lives he has bettered along his journey. If you have ever met him for more than 5 minutes I know that you surely can attest to the above because in that time im sure he has touched you too. Now picture 24 years later and maybe you can know where I am right now.

Love ya poppa, too much for words.