My Kaleidoscope Eyes

My dearest Lola,

I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you right now. I know the whole family is at your bedside at this very moment and I only wish that you’re not in any pain. I’m doing everything I can right now to hopefully make it in time.

You’ve always been the queen in my heart. With such sincerity and care, you instilled in me, and the rest of us, the importance of family – and it’s because of you that I grew up in such an incredible world filled the best kind of love anybody could ever know. Your examples and lessons in love are what helped shape me into the kind of person I am today – and what inspire me to always try and be the best I can be as time goes on. I only hope that I can be half the woman you are. That would be enough for me.

I’ll never forget those days, when you used to rock me in the rocking chair as a young child – when we still lived in Bigelow, or when you used to teach me how to cut paper dolls. Or when we used to sit on the couch and watch An American Tail over and over again because it was my favorite movie. You always did love that song (and that’s not something I’ll ever forget).

For as long as I can remember, you’ve always been like magic to me. It was always the little things that made you extraordinary – like the way you would magically appear with a popsicle in hand whenever I was sad as a kid, even though I knew the box in the freezer was empty. Even then, I knew you had magical powers.

Then as I grew older, you were always there for me, never expecting anything in return even though you so deserved it. You were always the first to greet me “happy birthday,” (even if that meant I was getting a call at 7 in the morning). And you always came to share the exciting moments in my life – choir concerts and Fil-Am dance performances, awards ceremonies at school and ALL of my academic matriculations. And when Fran was born, you didn’t hesitate for a second to comfort me and assure me that everything would be okay. You were right.

I don’t know how you did it all these years – how you were able to bring up 12 children and aid in the care of 2 more generations… And that doesn’t even include the hundreds of lives of other relatives and friends you’ve touched in the most beautiful way. One thing is for sure, this world is a much better place because of you. And WE are all much better people because of your inspiring selflessness, never-ending patience and unconditional love.

And although I know it’s not enough, the only thing I can do now is to say thank you. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being there for all of us through thick and thin. For being strong throughout all our hard times. For supporting us in all of our endeavors (for the record, you really are the world’s #1 hockey grandma). And last, but not least, thank you for making this wonderful life possible for me and for the whole Leviste clan.

There are a million more things I wish I could say to you right now. But I’m not worried because I know that deep inside, you know what they all are. You are magic. And you are a queen. And you’ll be in my heart for as long as I exist.

I love you Lola,

Darleen