I NEVER LIKED MY TOES
I never liked my toes. That all changed one day when my two-year-old granddaughter Solly relieved me of the funk I endured my whole life.
After bathing Solly and starting to dress her, I kissed those pristine baby feet and played one of our favorites, “This Little Piggy.” (See my blog post, “...And This Little Piggy Went Weeeee, All the Way Home,” dated July 21, 2020).
This time, in return, Solly unabashedly picked up my foot and kissed my toes as we giggled to our hearts' content. What a giggle session that was and, afterward, the thought came to me that she didn’t even notice or care about my crooked toes.
My friend Barbara has encouraged me to write a children’s book. After Solly cured my insecurity about my toes, the idea of a book featuring the one and only Solly crystalized.
With the rough draft of “Grandma Never Liked Her Toes” completed with alacrity, I worked with my friend Kevin, a retired college English Professor and department chair, to perfect the text. Next, I recruited my cousin Lilia, an acclaimed artist/illustrator, to take on my project and illustrate the book.
While pending the completion of Lilia’s illustrations, copyright and publication, I’m shopping for a clear Lucite box to encase one copy of the book for Solly. Then, I’ll hand her another copy of the children’s book she inspired me to write when she was two. That will be for her reading pleasure. At three, she may be ready to read it to her baby brother.
Thank you my dear Solly. You’re such a blessing. As your third birthday approaches and you turn that most fun age in a child’s development tomorrow, my hope is that you continue to giggle with all the love in your heart and do many great things even though your grandma has crooked toes.
HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRECIOUS GRANDDAUGHTER SOLLY ILAH
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HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRECIOUS GRANDDAUGHTER SOLLY ILAH 〰️
The 18-part series of my family from Chudnov, Ukraine will resume with part five in two weeks.
Look for: The Philly Branch From Chudnov coming May 3, 2022.