clinique lipstick, apple lollies, & other february musings

a letter to my nana, shared with you

A letter I wrote this week to my grandmother. It really felt like February to me, so I’m sharing it with you all, too. You’re probably reading it before she has:

Dear Nan,

The other day I saw a beautiful silver tube of Clinique lipstick. The tube was spiraled, just like the one that you used to wear and it made me think of you. I wonder, do you still wear that same shade of lipstick? I remember the way you pursed your lips, keeping them parted to put it on in your dressing room while I sat on your countertop & played with all the pale pink toiletries sitting by the sink.

Every time I’m on a road trip, I think about the caramel apple lollipops that you had in your car. I think sometimes you even brought them when you rode in our car. We were always riding in a mini van to downtown Asheville, whether it was yours or mom’s. We were always riding and chewing spearmint gum and talking about what shoes we were going to pick out when we got to the store.

I miss folding napkins with you in the reception hall of First Baptist Church. I think about that a lot as I sort through photos mom is sending me of your linen napkins to decide which ones to use for our wedding. Thank you for instilling in me your love of party planning. I like to think that I maybe got a bit of your creative eye, too. You’ll have to tell me what you think.

I also miss our after school rendezvous. Chocolate sundaes at Cardinal Drive-In and cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper at Sonic and Moose Tracks at Love That Yogurt. You always had Moose Tracks in your freezer. When’s the last time you ate Moose Tracks? We should have some together the next time I’m at your house.

I talked to the florist a couple weeks ago about putting flowers on the back of your wheelchair at the wedding. You’re going to look stunning sitting on a floral throne. I wish Papaw could be there to see you. I know he would rave about how beautiful you looked, just like he always did. I want you to feel like the queen of our wedding, because really in my mind, you are. Maybe you can even wear your Clinique lipstick.

Love you lots, Nan. Talk soon.

xx,

allie

p.s. There are hardly any thunderstorms in Chicago. I think you might actually like the weather here. Right now, it’s 40 degrees and sunny.

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Softening Me

• I watched After Yang this week. It was a beautiful film about grief & adoption & technology. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime.

• Currently reading Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm. If you have a uterus, this is really a must-read.

• Been playing so many games of Scattergories lately. It’s my favorite childhood game & my favorite grownup game.

• Synergy kombucha always hits, but I recently discovered the Elderberry Juniper flavor. It’s giving flower candy.

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