To my sweet baby girl,
A week ago you were promoted to a new daycare class and while we are glad that you’re growing up, well, the problem is, you’re growing up. The new class is technically for young two year olds, which you’re not. Let’s just say you’re advanced for your age! In any case, your new teacher was Ms. Taffy, who was quickly replaced by Ms. Denise. We LOVE Ms. Denise, just as much as we loved Ms. Rina. Fortunately, your classmates stay pretty much the same, which is great because the minute we pull into the school parking lot, you get an ENORMOUS smile on your face and say “MEEE-WAAH!” In other words, Mila. One of your favorite friends. Other classmates include:
- Aubrey, who you talk about with a dreamy smile on your face, especially when you talk about him in relation to “schwings.” I think it’s safe to say that you love Aubrey, even repeating it when Mama said “Ani loves Aubrey.”
- J.D. While I think you still might consider J.D. a boyfriend, last week, you and he got into a little, um, well let’s just say tiff. (I think altercation was the real word used.) Apparently J.D. wanted to use your swing, or you his, resulting in some hair pulling. Now, as J.D. was recently shorn like a sheep, I’m guessing that he pulled yours and God strike me down for saying this, but GOOD FOR YOU, because you fought back! Stand up for yourself Baby Girl!
- Kate, who I don’t know too much about. Unfortunately I don’t see her when I drop you off in the mornings.
- Jake, another unknown.
- Gut-ree (Guthrie) – he’s named after the chicken shack and other than that, well, again. No clue.
I do think you really enjoy your friends at school Ani. You learn good (counting, laughing, smiling) and bad (hair pulling) things from them. I’d like to say that I think you’ll hang out with these friends for the rest of your school years, but the fact of the matter is, I just don’t know. We live in a different school district than them, so chances are good that you’ll spend your daycare days in their company and then your real school days creating another set of friends. But Ani, I want you to know the importance of lifelong friends.
There are lifelong friends that you’ve truly known for a lifetime. There are lifelong friends who you’ve known for half a lifetime. There are even lifelong friends who you’ve only know a few years or even less. They are literally family. They all have one thing in common though. Your heart knows them when you meet.
They are the people who play David Bowie “Ground Control to Major Tom” every single morning of your junior year of college (ERIN “FIFI” LEE RENFROE!)…and yet, you’re still friends. They scream your name into the phone when you call them once in a blue moon (my favorite MARCIA on the planet!). They remind you how *cough, cough* precocious you were as a fourth grader (somehow I just don’t believe you – ELIZABETH!). They fly to Oregon for your wedding, become the de facto wedding coordinator once there and STILL invite you to come down to Tiger land for the LSU/Alabama game (GEAUX TIDE ALICIA!). They call you every single Sunday on their way to basketball in Hood River (even making their five year old son roll up the windows in a non-air conditioned car so you can hear them - CHAD!). They don’t call often because they are busy with three kids but are one of the first to call when your heart needs them to do so (Nick, you know who you are). They forgive you when you can’t find a time to meet them the one time they’ve been in town for the past six months (we haven’t known each other long, but we share a rockin’ maiden name RANDEE!). They live in the city by the bay and provided you more stability in a very unstable time than anybody else…yet you haven’t seen them for eight years (Marta and Elo…I miss you SO MUCH!).
The point is Ani, they are the people that you can not speak to for months, even years, on end and still KNOW them the minute you reconnect. Its like you haven’t even skipped a beat. Ani, develop these friendships in your life. Make it a point to do so. By doing this, you will guarantee that you will never, ever, for a second be alone. Lifelong friends are living pieces of your heart. And you can’t live without your heart.
I love you Ani.
Mama
Ani and her forever friend and cousin, Sophia
Signe, Ani and Gunnar - A Couple Holloway Cousins
