cousins

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Dear Holly: You and Your Cousin Darla are Pretty Much Everywhere Together

8 years, 10 months.

Dear Holly,

As I do my best to manage incoming photos from Aunt Dana and Nonna, I realized I needed to created a special folder named “Holly and Darla”. There is a reoccurring theme: So many photos are of you and your cousin Darla together.

Sometimes, I receive these photos with no context or caption… not that one is necessarily needed.

Dance class. Dinner after dance class. School. Church?

Those mainly seem to be the categories.

When you’re not here with me at the house, it’s pretty much a given that you and your cousin are together doing whatever it is you’re doing.

And I’ve got the photos to back it up… even if I had no idea where you were at the time.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your Interest in Performing Music

8 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

Despite me giving your brother a standing offer to teach him how to play guitar, met by him continually choosing other hobbies instead, you will apparently be my child who actually shares an interest in performing music.

It appears that you and your cousin Darla have now formed a pop duo. (An official name has yet to be determined.)

She plays the ukulele while you take care of lead vocals. You both share the responsibility of songwriting.

I am so proud, and relieved, to know that at least one of my children will carry on the music legacy in our family.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: The Wheelchair from the Estate Sale

6 years, 11 months.

Dear Holly,

Your cousin Darla has an entire toy room at her house, which would otherwise be the official dining room.

While the two of you can easily play for hours with just the dolls alone, I was somewhat surprised to learn that an actual wheelchair is now included in the roster of toys.

You and your cousin take turns playing “hosptial”, based on who pretends to have a hurt leg and therefore has to be pushed down the hall.

Granted, your brother also tried out the wheelchair as well; which involved him rolling himself down the hill in the backyard and rolling over on his face.

Fortunately, this was not an ironic case of him actually needing the wheelchair due to his injuries.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You are the Only One Without a Tan!

6 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

It’s not for a lack of you not being outside in the sun enough. You love being outside. In fact, you accompany me most days on my morning walk; whether you’re walking the two miles alongside me, or whether I’m pulling you in the wagon.

Yet still, in any group, you remained the “untanned” one of the group.

Whether it’s in our family of 4, or among your cousins, or your friends… the sun simply turns you pink at best- or should I say, at worst?

As you like to say, “Daddy, I’m always the brightest one!”

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Yet Another Look at You as a Teenager!

5 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

I feel like anytime a picture is taken of you and your cousin Darla playing together, I can’t help but think the same thing every time:

That is exactly how they are going to act when they are teenagers!

The two of you have always acted this way when you play together, as if speaking your own secret language.

You are constantly pretending to go shopping, while toting purses and cell phones.

The fact that you are both the same age only intensifies the connection the two of you have!

You serve as perfect playmates.

Love,

Daddy