New Year's Tradition--Lola's Raffle
Last year I wrote about my Lola's New Year's Day tradition--she would raffle off prizes or money to all her grandchildren. It was always a fun gathering, an extra day of bonding. I've always wanted to carry on her tradition and last year I figured out a way to do it remotely....with books, of course.
This year I again sent books to my nephews in Colorado as well as my twin niece and nephew in L.A. in honor of Lola.
Our book list this year:
- Bookworm Girls: The Dam Keeper by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi and Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrated by Elizabeth Vukovic
- Twins (Piggie and Monkey): The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat and Rot, the Cutest in the World by Ben Clanton (I really want this book--I may have to borrow it.)
- The Boys: It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton (sense a theme here?) and Under Water, Under Earth by Aleksandra Mizielinksa and Daniel Mizielinski
The Boys with their New Year's Day books. Posted with Permission.
Letters to Lola: at our Christmas Eve party, my sister set out some of Lola's photo albums along with a manila envelope chock full of our letters to Lola. I didn't get a chance to look through all of them, but they were letters that my sisters and I wrote to Lola as adults.
I love reminders of how much love we shared and how much she means to us. Below is a postcard collage that my sister made Lola (posted with permission), and also likely one of the last letters I sent Lola before she passed away.
12/31/17
Dear Lola,
I'm no longer your squirt. I've given up that nickname to my second daughter, the one you must be taking care of for me. I finished med school, though you died the year before I graduated, the year before I came back home to California. How I wished you held out a bit longer, at least to meet your namesake. My eldest is named after you and Nana. She is intelligent and gifted and stubborn, just like you. Her own person.
My youngest is her own person too. Quirky and lively and smart and full of joy.
And they are full of stories, just like you and me. I think you would love to hear their stories, much as I loved listening to yours. I miss you every day.
Love,
The original (maybe) Squirt
By the way, you may have heard me mention this before, but I often refer to Mini Me as my eldest and Little Lion as my youngest. Sometimes when I'm talking to patients and their families, I refer to Little Lion as my 'second' child but I always cringe inside as I say it. It feels like I'm lying but I don't always have the time to tell people the truth. Saying 'eldest' and 'youngest' feels more real to me, but I often wonder if families with just two children refer to their kids in this way.
Tell Dr. Bookworm!
Do you have any special letters that you've kept?
