But some things just hang around. And after they keep turning up year after year, surviving my constant purges and trash patrols, a certain amount of respect is deserved and so, yes, I still have a train-smashed quarter that Scott and I put on the tracks behind Monrovia Nursery when we were dating at APU. I don't have a special place for it, it just keeps showing up in a junk drawer or at the bottom of a jar of change. I've had it for 16 freaking years now! I think it deserves a chance to live another year!
And so, I am not ashamed and actually quite tickled to share a couple of old note cards that have hung around the bottom of a drawer here or a basket there, from Hashifa written to me when she was 15 years old. She may be a mommy now, but she'll always be Hashifa Vachoo:
December 12, 1997
Hey Sista! What's goin' on? I haven't talked to you in FOREVER. What up wit dat? (ebonics) Anyway, this card totally reminded me of the three of us. Can you believe we're ALL going to be under the same roof? It's been like 6 years. Okay, so it was only a year & a half but the point is it's been a while. I'm sooo excited. It sucks monkeys that I have to work while you guys are here but it's really worth that minimum wage. (No, that was a fallacious statement--how do you like my vocab? I'm supposed to use it as much as I can.) Oh yeah, Jen? We need to have a talk. Not just any talk but the sit-down-I-need-to-talk-to-you talk. Okay, this is it: no niece of mine will be named Emerson. I'm just going to leave it at that. How do you feel about Wendy? You guys chew on that one for a while and get back to me. Okay, I'd better wrap this up. The homework is calling me, I must answer. Hopefully I'll talk to you before you guys come but if not, then I'll see you when you come over! Tell Scott hi for my boca and tell him I felt wrong about adressing this to him too b/c it had a picture of three girls. I hope he can forgive me. Say hello to all my mid-western friends!
Now, before you read the next one, I must interject here; Emerson was actually on HER short list! And WENDY?? Are you kidding me? Here's the next one which, by the way, was in an envelope addressed to "Dead Face" a nickname my loving sisters gave me in my angry teen years referring to my scabbed over acne. Nice.
June 17, 1999
Jon--I picked this card out of Mom's "I-should-send-this-person-a-card-so-I'll-buy-it" bin b/c it remind me of those magnets that used to be on the refrigerator & it was the only one that didn't say "to you on your wedding day." Anyway, thank you SO MUCH for coming out for my grad. I know how much strength it takes to be here. I really appreciate the times we have together to talk. It really helps to have someone who knows what's up & isn't on Depacote! I am for reals so proud of you & Scott & Bug & the life you guys have made all on your own. It sounds dumb but your success is such an inspiration & an encouragement to realize that there is life after Steve & Linda. I am so excited to go away & get back in touch with the things that I know I should be. I'm sorry I couldn't come tonight, but your kid kept me up last night. It's okay, though, anyone else's kid would have been through the window! Our good-byes are always the same anyways so I thought I'd save us both a few tears. For reals, though Jen, I love you so much & I am so thankful for your love & spport. The next time I see you WILL be at Christmas. Tell Scott thanks for loaning you & Natty out these last two weeks--I couldn't have needed you more! I love you & I miss you!
I have a few other topics to discuss, but it's self-imposed, family-endorsed SCREEN-FREE FEBRUARY at our house and I'm breaking my own rule posting this. I'll try and do more this weekend (when screens in moderation are allowed)if I get through all of my blog reading catching up.
I leave you with this of Scott holding Hashifa's precious baby
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