How's My Girl?
Somewhere in the attic is a box....and another....and another......that looks like this one. Every year of my life until the year that he died, on Valentine's Day, he brought one home with him - one for her and one for me.
Oh I knew there would be no surprises. No jewelry. No money. No real roses. And nothing terribly expensive.
I wouldn't have cared for them anyway.
It was the same every year.
Wonderfully the same.
I wouldn't have cared for them anyway.
It was the same every year.
Wonderfully the same.
A red medium sized heart-shaped box of chocolates
with a red plastic rose and a ribbon.
From Papa.
It wasn't the chocolate I craved. Nor the box.
It was this:
It was this:
As if on cue, he would enter with a smiling faithful gift for both of us on February 14th. He would kiss my grandmother on the cheek as she hugged his laughing belly, cup my uplifted adoring face with the other hand and ask, "How's my girl?"
What a silly question.
I knew I was his girl.
I knew I was his girl.
I still am.
Psst! A little birdie told me that today is Nick's birthday. Please go wish him a happy happy.
Copyright © 2006-2009 Mimi Lenox. All Rights Reserved.
64 comments:
What lovely memories, thank you for sharing them with us. There is absolutely nothing like an adoring grandfather to make us feel loved, is there?
how lovely mimi. i loved my grandpa too, he died when i was only five though. i have so many wonderful memories of him though!
smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoox
Linda and Bee - I miss him.
Me Cold, Dark Heart be Softened by th'Memory, Me Dear Mimi. Well Held.
Capn - That memory would not let me go this afternoon. He always shows up when I need him the most.
Wonder if either of my grandpas would have left me with such wonderful memories? At least I had my Oma.
Have a great day, Mimi.
I was blessed to have wonderful grandparents ... and miss them very much. Grandma always sent me home with a bag full of goodies!
The memories I carry with me every day are not only happy ones, but guidelines for who I try to be and emulate. If I can be half as kind to those around me as my predecessors, I will have succeded.
Autumn - You sound sad. What's up?
Eric - Well said. The longer our loved ones are gone from us, the more beautiful they become. I miss them (and him especially) on Valentine's.
That brought tears to my eyes. Very lovely tribute to a sweet man.
Kitten - He was the epitome of sweet and many other things I admired and loved.
That was beautiful.
A great reminder that it's not the expense of the gift, but the intent of the giving that matters most.
very nice your highness, and may yours be a royal day.....
What a lovely memory Mimi. :)
that made my eyes mist up...what a sweet tender memory!
Precious traditions and memories.
How sweet. : ) Happy Valentine's Day, Mimi.
XO
Summer - Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours. Thank you.
Jeff - Exactly. I think I would UNcomfortable with a showy display of gifts on Valentine's Day. Little things throughout the year is sooo much better and means everything.
Sarge - Hug and kiss Miss Bee all day, will ya?
Akelamalu - Are you still away? I'm knocking on the suitcase!! Do you hear me? Hellllooooooo.....??
Lois - Don't cry...unless it's the good kind. I think this is the good kind. Writing it made me cry too.
I miss him.
Songbird - It was the tradition that mattered the most, yes.
John - Happy Valentine's Day to you as well. Smooch.
A fine memory to share, Mimi. Anniversaries are not very easy to get through.
What a wonderful memory, Mimi!
Of course, now I'm pouting because I have no chocolate whatsoever.
Very nice. A wonderful memory.
Jean-luc - Some days, even after all these years, it feels like he is here.
Really.
WillThink - Have it delivered to your home and charge it to your husband's credit card.
Charles - Thanks. Hope you and Lana have an awesome Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day! I can see that your grampa's gift from the heart lives on in your heart, forever.
Happy Valentine's Day my dear.
You know the list of people I would invite to my table for dinner? Your Papa is on that list, and pretty near the top.
It's things like this that make me wish I'd known my grandparents. Sadly I didn't.
Daisy - Absolutely. Have a great Valentine's Day, Daisy!
Travis - This made me smile. He would be honored.
Beetles - They often make a mark more concrete than our own parents simply because they aren't "the parents"....He died at a young age. I would so have loved for him to know Baby Boy.
such a sweet [no pun intended] way to remember your dad, mimi...
blessings to you and yours
today is the first anniversary of my dad's burial... and i just got a phone call, minutes ago, from my buddy's sister, apparently he died of a massive heart attack, locking the garage door on his way to work yesterday :(
for me, february IS the cruelest month!
laughingwolf - I am so sorry the memories are there to hurt you today. What a tragedy. Sending a hug.
Reaz - Welcome.
Mimi-
A touching story that I know is heartfelt...
I love the picture of the heart-shaped box, and hearing that there are more of them in the attic. I keep sentimental things and know that they're basically only meaningful to myself, but they give me enormous pleasure when I take them out and treasure them again.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Memories to treasure forever Mimi.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Grandpa's have a special way about them, don't they. My grandpa could call my name in a high pitched "Juuulieeeeeee" and I would come running even after I was in my 30's. I would love to jump into his lap even now.
Thanks for sharing love from your heart to us.
Happy Valentine's Day dear.
That is a truly sweet memory. You were fortunate to have such a warm relationship with your papa.
It's amazing, sometimes, to think about how grandparents could do things so simple and yet so meaningful.
Memories like that make for a life well-lived. You're a lucky woman.
Bud - You do know.
Julia - It's a great feeling, isn't it?
Dawn - And to you!
Julie - How sweet. I would like to see that!
Jamie - I was fortunate and blessed.
Southern - He was an amazing presence in my life.
Don - I have lots more where those came from....
Still his girl and will always be. Hope you had a great valentines day.
That's a lovely Valentine's day memory!
Thanks for directing folks to my Valentine's Day birthday party. I had a grand birthday!
Ricardo - Always.
Nick - I hope your birthday was all you hoped it would be.
Yay for parties!
Lovely post. I still miss my grandfather and father. Unfortunately I never met the other grandfather!
I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day ~
Like everybody else, thought this was a terrific post (both for the story and the storytelling). Your grandfather sounds like he was a great guy and it's nice that he left you with such wonderful memories.
God, this was so moving! I was my Grandpa's "best girl." He died when I was 16, and I miss every day. I still remember him hugging me into his white t-shirted chest. He smelled like cigars. There was nothing like his unconditional love ... Except perhaps the love you got from your Grandpa.
Princess Patti - That is truly unfortunate to have never met him. I never met my paternal grandmother either. I've always wondered.
Eerie - Thanks for commenting so much on my blog. I really appreciate it. I need to catch up and find out what you're about on yours!
I appreciate the support.
Gal - Unconditional love. That sums it up perfectly. So you know how that is, too.....I miss him so much.
Glad you got to experience that with your Grandpa.
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