I have the best sister ever. Just got a box full of candy buttons, zebra stripe gum, pop rocks, fun dip and other shenanigans in the mail for my birthday (this Sunday). The following homemade card, written in a penmanship which upon seeing, you’d be instantly jealous of, was attached:
“Dear Rachelle,
Life is sweet, isn’t it? It was particularly sweet when we lived on Sierra Drive, and on a warm spring day, we’d get on our bikes - yours with the pink wheels, mine with the banana seat, the spokes click-clacking with their snap-on beads - and pedal our skinny little legs off to Ben Franklin, our long hair blowing behind us, our bangs flattened against the wind. Once we made it up the big hill by MeadowLane, we knew we were golden.
The aisle of sugar was minutes away.
We’d load our plastic bowls with these penny candies, stuff our mouths with our favorites, and pedal home. Our destination found; our simple journey made.
If I could give you anything for your birthday, it’d be one more trip to BF when we were still young enough to be excited by the prospect of Laffy Taffys.
Since I can’t give you that, here’s the next best thing. I filled a bowl for you of all our favorites (plus some toys that reminded me of you). Happy Birthday - take time to savor the sweetness of childhood once in awhile. You will always be, for me, the best part of it. Love you - Renee”
Renee, I don’t know how in the world you found some of this stuff (like the “tube of balloons”-wasn’t that banned?- and the “grow your own”), but I assure you, it made my day…and my birthday.
[A Visual]