I was in Los Angeles for the holiday to see my two 20-something kids. I was there only around 36 hours—barely time to digest Thanksgiving dinner— but long enough to overlap Black Friday. Though I’m a sucker for a great sale, I’d rather walk over hot coals than shop that day.
But Alli almost never asks for anything—and I agreed to spend some of my 36 hours at…( gulp)… a mall. At least she didn’t insist on going at daybreak. 12 hours later, it was still mobbed.
We chose Topanga Canyon mall because it was convenient to where her dad now lives. It was nowhere near our neighborhood when I lived in LA; and I had only been to this mall once—-also with Alli.
This time we didn’t buy anything, but I still have a souvenir from that other shopping trip years ago. In fact I know the exact date : July 1, 1992. I know this because it’s written at the top of a piece of notebook paper, hanging on my wall inside a frame— so faded I can barely make out the words , which read:
On this day, my mommy took me all the way to Topanga Canyon Mall to the Gap to get a special shirt that I wanted so badly because my mommy has the same one and I love it and she called every single Gap store in Los Angeles to find it. Because my mommy went so far out of her way for me and did such a special thing and in honor of all the thousands of other special things she has done for me in the past 8 years, I hereby solemnly promise that I will be a trouble-free teenager.
This document was written by me, witnessed by her 4-year old brother; and has Alli’s 8-year old signature at the bottom.
Looking back, I should have made her sign her name in blood. LOL.
P.S. I probably shouldn’t even admit this: I didn’t just save the paper. I also saved the shirt.
That was the best story….Thanks for sharing with us how special your daughter is.
I would have saved and cherished that note that Alli wrote to you too! So innocent and so full of love. She must be a very wonderful woman.
OMG this is so funny—Alli IS truly a amazing, and always was an amazing kid, even at 8—But when I read these comments I went back and read the post, and just changed it to reflect the truth: I wrote the words, Alli signed it. Actually I told her to sign it. She wanted that shirt so badly she would have signed anything. LOL.
Hate to disappoint—the note (and the shirt) are still worth saving; and she really is special and wonderful.
That is so sweet.
But I don’t think even blood could make any teen keep that deal…