Thursday, May 5, 2011

There was a time when I had perfectly bad grammar but amazing handwriting

My grandmother I fondly call "Lola" treasures a lot of memorabilia: old photographs, letters, even receipts. In her collections was this letter I wrote to her when I was seven.

At the time, my grandparents were in the States to have my grandfather ("Lolo") treated for his diabetic complications. I actually remember writing this in the kitchen, using a Mongol pencil number 2. I did a lot of rewriting, but my parents never bothered to correct the atrocious subject-verb agreements and wrong tenses, even if they knew I was writing in a foreign language.

I was told that my grandparents cried when they read this. My Lolo has long been dead, and I miss him.

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December 5, 1994

Dear lolo and lola,

How are you there? Are you alright. I thank God because may God bless you. La, Sean has all perfect exams, La, and kuya Ralph is very smart na La. Lola I'm number 1 in 1st grading and in 2nd grading. And my parent's is very happy. La, do you know Sean is big boy. La, please buy me a roller blades and also roller scates. Lola I'm practicing now. La I was hospitalized last month. La How about lolo is he alright? We miss you lolo and lola. Don't worry about us. Last November 27 we enjoyed our family day in school starting November 30 until December 12 we have no classes because of N.S.S.P.C [National Secondary Schools Press Conference] so we just stay at home and watch TV and I also study my lesson. La Nanay have orchids and there are many flowers. She has no money she buys orchids. Tatay is very masipag, tatay every day he goes to his farm. Lola Merry Christmas lola and lolo. Si tatay nahidlaw na gid sa imo lola [Tatay really misses you, Lola]. Lola buy me a Bat man cloth, pencil, eraser, paper, black shoes, bag. I'm praying to Jesus that you come home in the Philipines.

Love,
Lance

I probably looked a lot like the kid in the middle.

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6 Comments:

Blogger Maisie said...

awww. You're so cute Lance. :)

Thu May 05, 09:58:00 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Abby said...

It took me a few seconds to figure out what "La" means. :D I can see how it made your grandparents cry. Thank you for sharing this. :)

And for what it's worth, I'm a fan of your current handwriting.

Fri May 06, 12:33:00 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hahahah I've got a lot of those stuffs from my elementary days, it's good to keep those, so that we can measure our growth or improvement by just looking back what and who we are yesterday...

anyway, I have read some of your articles and it seem we're on the same niche... I wonder if just ok for you if we'll exchange link, you may check out my newly created blog @ http://collectivemindrx.blogspot.com/

Mon May 09, 09:05:00 AM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

lance, you still look like the kid in the middle. ^_^

Mon May 09, 03:35:00 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

kuya, this is a perfect example of the saying "practice makes perfect"! :))) mike

Wed May 11, 03:09:00 PM GMT+8  
Blogger Shean Roxanne said...

hahahah. cute lance-tot. :)

Mon Mar 26, 03:13:00 PM GMT+8  

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