Nana’s Charm
Bracelet
Dear Liliyah:
Many years ago when your
Daddy and Aunt Abby were little, I wanted a charm bracelet so that I could
remember all of the special times with my family. So for my birthday one year, your Grandpa got
me a charm bracelet, and Abby and Dustin got me my very first charm….Mickey
Mouse.
This week I am flying to
Nashville to take care of you while your Daddy is on a business trip. I’m bringing this charm bracelet with me so
that you can have it. I will go over every
charm with you and tell you why they are important to me; and I’m also putting
this note into my blog on Liliyah.com so that you can always read it again.
There are 24 charms on
this bracelet. Below is the memory that
goes with each one.
Mickey Mouse
When your dad and Aunt
Abby were little, we went to Disney World with my brother Danny, his wife
Diana, and their son Matthew. Matthew is
the same age as your Aunt Abby. We had
the best time. Your Dad would get so
tired at night that he would fall asleep at the dinner table. One time his face went right in his food. In fact, your Dad was about the same age as
you are right now….6!
Green Shamrock
When your Grandpa and I
first started dating, it was a little hard because my brother didn’t start out
being very friendly to me or your Grandpa.
So one night your Grandpa and I met my brother and his wife at a little
place called the Byron Hotel. It was St.
Patrick’s Day and we drank lots of green beer; and our tongues turned green! When
your Grandpa and I were driving back home, my brother called us on my CB radio
(we used radios, not cell phones back then) to let us know that he and Diana
enjoyed getting to know my new boyfriend and that they had a great time. This Shamrock reminds me of that night. So, Lil, always remember that if someone does
something or says something that hurts you, it’s not about you. It’s about them and who they are; and you can
still love them, even if they are different.
Make choices in life that are good for YOU. That’s all that matters.
Snow Skis
Your Grandpa and I had
some of our very first dates on the ski slopes.
He bought me this charm one year to remind me of all of the great times
we had skiing together. In fact, I was
just learning how to ski when I met your Grandpa; and for a whole year my butt
was black and blue from falling in the snow.
Ski Chair Lift
There were many jokes
about me and chair lifts when I first learned how to ski. I could never get on them the right way. Sometimes I would fall out of them; and
sometimes I would forget to get off of them and the chair would have to go all
the way around again. Your Grandpa got
me this charm to remind me of all of those funny moments.
Rooster
As a little girl, I grew
up on a dairy farm that was owned by my Grandparents. My Grandmother raised chickens and I would
always help her collect eggs in the morning and evening. The chickens use to eat the buttons off of my
shirts and Grandma would have to sew more on.
One of my favorite things was to hear the rooster crow in the
morning. This was given to me from
Dustin (your Daddy), for my birthday.
Cheerleading Megaphone
When I was in high school
I was a cheerleader for the soccer and basketball teams. I was actually the president of the
cheerleading squad. Abby gave me this
charm one year for my birthday. When
Abby was in kindergarten, she couldn’t pronounce cheerleader; so she told the
teacher that her mother use to be a “cheater”!
Little Deer
I enjoyed deer hunting
with both of my parents. When my mother
died, every time I saw a little deer in the woods I would think of her. This charm was given to me by Abby and Dustin
for Christmas one year to remind me of my mother.
Heart with I Love You
This charm was given to me
from your Grandpa for Valentine’s Day.
Sewing Machine
One of my preschool
students gave me this charm for Christmas.
My students knew that I loved to sew.
I use to make all of Abby and Dustin’s Halloween costumes; and also made
the crayon costumes for my nursery school graduations. This sewing machine also
reminds me of all of the special times that I spent with my Grandmother when
she was teaching me how to sew.
Treasure Chest
Your Grandpa bought me
this treasure chest. I snipped a piece
of his hair and wrapped it up and put it in this chest. So, if you open this treasure chest, be
careful because your Grandpa’s hair is in there. That hair is over 40 years old.
Fireplace
When we moved into our
first home on Hibbard Road in Clarendon, we put some fireplaces in the
home. Abby and Dustin got me this
fireplace one year for Christmas to symbolize the living room fireplace with
their Christmas stockings hanging on it.
Merry Christmas Wreath
This wreath was given to
me by one of my nursery school students.
Statue of Liberty
I will never forget the
first time I saw the Statue of Liberty.
It took my breath away. I
remember climbing all the way up into her crown, and looking out over the city. Then I even climbed up inside her arm all the
way to the torch in her hand. Today they
don’t let you climb that high inside of her.
I found this charm in the gift shop in New York City.
Whiteface Mountain Shield
Your Grandpa and I use to
ski on Whiteface Mountain every single year.
We loved it there. We called it
“our mountain”. I bought this at
Whiteface.
Typewriter
When I worked at Eastman
Kodak Company, I started out as a secretary and could type faster than any of
the other secretaries in the entire building.
Today it’s even hard to find a typewriter.
Heart with Rose
Given to me by your
Grandpa on Valentine’s Day.
Gold Chair
Abby got me this one year
because I was always sitting at my chair doing my makeup. She picked it out herself. Even though it is gold and not silver, I kept
it because it was from Abby and she bought it all on her own.
Picture of Baby Abby
This charm was given to me
from Abby on my birthday.
Picture of Adam & Matthew
My sister, Judy gave me
this charm with a picture of my two nephews, Adam and Matthew.
Turtle
Given to me from
Dustin. He had a pet turtle when we
lived in Tennessee. We named him Chunky
because a chunk of his shell was missing.
So this charm is actually Chunky the turtle.
Easter Bunny
When I owned my nursery
school, I had a beautiful Easter Bunny costume.
I use to play Easter Bunny at some of the area Egg Hunts. In fact, I have a picture of me in the bunny
costume with Abby and Dustin. They had
no idea that their Mom was in that costume.
Blue Quebec Shield
One year your Grandpa and
I went to Quebec in Canada to their winter carnival. It was beautiful to see all of the ice castles. I bought this charm at a gift shop so I would
always have a memory of that trip.
Wreath with Green Stone
This is my
birthstone. It’s called a peridot. This charm was given to me from Abby and
Dustin on one of my birthdays.
Maple Leaf
Going to Niagara Falls on
the Canadian side has always been one of my favorite places. One time we went on the Maid of the Mist
where we were in a boat and went right under the falls! I found this charm in Canada that day. The maple leaf is a Canadian symbol and is on
their flag.
So, there you have it! You can keep this charm bracelet and remember some special times that Nana had with her family....including your Daddy.
Love you....Nana
