So Joe has gone back to school but I haven't started yet ... so I am trying to do useful things like organize closets and clean up the basement (not going so well!!). But the job does have an upside! Today I spent several hours reading old notes, letters, and even a few journal entries (this was all part of organizing one of my big boxes of "stuff"). I thought I would share an entry from June 3, 1992. I was 8. Spelling and punctuation has not been changed.
"Yesterday night my baby bunny died. Two days latter Elizabeth's and Vickie's bunnys died too. I'm very sad. Each of us baereid are bunnys. We don't no why the bunny's died. I don't think the bunny's got a noff to eat. We all tried to feed the bunny's with an eyedroper. One night I went to Jesse's [older brother] thing with his soccer when I got home thats when it had died. I never told you what my bunny's name is. Well, it's name is stripe. (Thats because he had a white stripe on it's head.) I'll still always be sad about him. But I'll always remember how much I loved him. And how much I always will love him. And what a good bunny he was!"
Unfortunately, I am sad to say I did not exactly keep my promise to "always love" this bunny because I don't even remember having a bunny! I'm sure subconsciously I was loving him all the while, though. From an earlier entry I learned that the three of us girls had found three little bunnies without a mother and tried to take care of them. At least we weren't intentionally snatching innocent little bunnies and letting them starve!
And one other priceless piece of correspondence, not dated (written with a multi-colored colored pencil):
"Dear Tooth Fairy, I do wonder if you're on vacation! Or maybe it's just because I said I wasn't sure if you were real. Well, now I know that you are really real. Have a good day! Lindsey Lewis."
And the reply in cursive writing: "Thank you for believing. Your friend, The Tooth Fairy."
I know what you are thinking. Pretty cool that I got a note from the Tooth Fairy! I guess I knew what it took to get some more of those shiny silver dollars and pretty rocks under my pillow. Still have them!
But let's not stop there. I found all kinds of notes that my mom (and sometimes dad) had written to me when I was little. From the large volume I had stuffed away it seemed to be practically a daily occurrence. But don't worry, I DO remember getting these notes ... I had a little mini mailbox in my room that my mom would stick them in. And these are in addition to the notes I would get in my lunchbox, which would get thrown away. Here are a few examples:
"Dear Lindsey, I am glad you are feeling better. This special pencil is to remind you of what a good job you did selling Girl Scout cookies. Love, Mom."
This one is from 1991 - I was 6. "[Insert cute "OUTSTANDING" sticker here.] You didn't get out of bed last night! Love, Mom."
Again when I was 6: "Dear Lindsey, I'm glad the toad didn't turn into a prince. Then he would have wanted you to go away with him on his white horse and I would miss you. Love, Mom." [What?! Don't tell me I actually kissed a toad...]
"I love you Lindsey. Please write me a note soon or I'll forget how to read. Love, Mom."
And finally - all these years I thought that my crazy obsession with studying and getting good grades was completely all me - but here is proof that it was a learned behavior. Hehe. "Dear Lindsey, I am proud of the good work you are doing at school. Working hard and doing well will make you happy. I love you - Mom." [It's okay, Mom, this is just healthy reinforcement!]
And one more: "Dear Lindsey, I'm glad your story at school is going well and that you're enjoying writing it. Writing is a very important skill for a Supreme Court Judge. I love you - Mom." [I used to want to be a SC Justice!]
Okay I hope that was fun for a few of you. It was touching to reread all the many sweet notes from my parents when I was so little ... and it made me excited about having fun traditions like little mailboxes with my own children someday!
P.S. I also read some old notes from my friends in high school! It must have been nice for us to have classes that were so easy we could spend all period writing and decorating our notes to each other. Too bad I wouldn't dream of doing that in law school or at BYU - even Book of Mormon was too hard for that!!
13 years ago
9 comments:
Dang, now I'm going to think twice before I throw away little notes to Jeff and stuff. That sounds like a neat experience.
How awesome that you still have all those notes! My fav (aside from the bunny essay) is your Mom reminding you to write her a note so she doesn't forget how to read. That's awesome Mom stuff right there. My Mom used to write me notes on my napkins for my sack lunches, I used them though, so they weren't really keepers. Great post!
That was fun to read! Old notes and letters are so special. I have kept a lot of my old notes and letters too. What a great mom you had writing you all those sweet notes! What a great idea to have a little mail box in your room! I like that one! I also liked the note from your mom telling you to write her a note so she didn't forget how to read too. Classic!
I wanna hear all of the juicy junior high love notes that have circle "yes" or "no" at the bottom. No that would be a great post just like this one.
That was fun to read. I love finding those old notes. I like the mailbox idea... I might just have to use that idea. :)
I love that you saved all of that. Unfortunately I threw everything away from my childhood. Of course, I do have my journal entries that are quite hilarious. Your mom is adorable.
The tooth fairy conversation is the best. Never stop believing.
Oh I love all those little notes!!!! That is the cutest thing ever! Chad just got really sad while we read this and said he doesn't remember anything from his childhood. Poor guy.
I laughed out loud reading the stuff about the bunny. Pretty great. And when I read the notes, I was also reminded how much I love your mom...she is amazing. How is she so good at being a mom? I want to be just like her! Don't worry about not being able to come this weekend. I was swamped with school stuff anyway. I have a long weekend in October...maybe, if Ry has school off too, we could come see you guys. I'll let you know!
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