Two Vanilla Pumps

Slice of Life '24 2 Minutes

We sit in the car line of busy morning people. Everyone waits for their most likely detailed orders, thinking of the places to be and things to accomplish. I typically narrate these moments and invite you to notice small moments.

We glare at the rooster and its magnificent stance before crossing the street, quickly met by the dump truck and its kind driver, who often lets it go first. We see traces of big gatherings by the domino stand, imagining the older men with their cigars and white pressed shirts. I tell you how I’ll remember these moments for you whenever you ask about your first year of life living in Miami.

The line moves up. One by one, drivers take a break from looking at their phones and notice it’s time to drive up a bit further. My place in line now lets me notice three cars behind us in the sideview mirror. Grown-ups whose faces I can’t see because they are looking down. Busy, distracted, looking to make every second more interesting, and afraid of some silence.

When it’s our turn to order, I smile at the screen and greet the lady as nicely as she always does to us.

“What can I get you today?” she asks.

I respond, “Two tall lattes. One with two vanilla pumps. Thank you!”

As I carefully place the coffees in the cupholders, I tell you, “This is for Gianna. She will insist on paying back or buying us a coffee the next time. But that won’t stop us from expressing our gratitude.”

You see, Elena, I want you to know everything about Gi. I want us to talk about the year I went back to work, and you started daycare, and how one of the people who made that possible was her. I want to show you photos of Gianna and tell you all about her authentic compassion and willingness to help whenever I had to run with you to the doctor’s office or stay home because you were sick.

I have always put my job first, and you came to point out what truly matters. Even if I know work comes second, I still care about doing things right. I haven’t felt like I failed because I have Gianna’s unwavering support and honest understanding. That is priceless.

You will learn that you are capable of doing so much on your own. You’ll feel pride in many accomplishments, but I want you to appreciate more than that: the people around you who will stand by your side and lend a hand when needed.

I hope you have many Giannas, and get them as many lattes as possible with their two vanilla pumps.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Ana Valentina Patton

I aim to be a learner, not a knower. If I forget, please remind me.

Published

13 thoughts on “Two Vanilla Pumps”

  1. You write so beautifully, it really is a gift. What a great idea to write for your daughter and serve her with wonderful memories and life lessons. I wish I had thought to do that with my kids when they were little. I occasionally write a handwritten letter to three of my grandsons who I don’t see often and it is a lot of fun.

    Like

  3. This is really beautiful. I wrote weekly letters to my daughters for years and had them printed into books. They are at the ages now that they sometimes pull them out to read. What a gift. You are teaching your daughter to notice the world around her.

    Like

  4. Writing is a gift to your future self. And it’s also a gift to your bebe’s future self!

    ‘Grown-ups whose faces I can’t see because they are looking down. Busy, distracted, looking to make every second more interesting, and afraid of some silence.’
    I feel seen (somewhat mortifyingly so). Thanks for this beautiful slice.

    Like

  7. Maybe one of the letters I write to her this month is about all the comments people will make about your choices and how to navigate that. People definitely had a lot to tell me as a first-time mom! 😆
    Thank you for your encouragement. I can’t believe I didn’t try out this challenge before.

    Like

  8. I’m not crying; you’re crying!
    You’re not just talking to Elena for the sake of talking to her… you’re teaching her life lessons. And while she may not remember it all, she will grow up to be a better human because of how you spoke to her from an early age. What a lucky little lady.
    And, yes, we all need to care for the Giannas in our lives! Double pump vanilla lattes are a wonderful way to say, “I see you and I appreciate you.”
    Also, your writing is heartfelt and brings me back to my early years as a mom, with my oldest. I used to narrate everything for her. People in the supermarket and stores gave me looks… one even went so far as to tell me, “She doesn’t understand you.” (Thanks, buddy.)

    Liked by 1 person

  9. What a wonderful letter to your daughter – both in the moment as you narrate it aloud and in the moment as you write it down. May we all learn the lesson you hope for your child: “You will learn that you are capable of doing so much on your own. You’ll feel pride in many accomplishments, but I want you to appreciate more than that: the people around you who will stand by your side and lend a hand when needed.” Gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Who’s crying? I’m surely not crying.
    I love how your talking to the baby in the car seat as you sit in line for coffee turned into a captured slice of life. And what a gift to your daughter, and I hope to read other letters to her, as you promised to ‘remember these moments for you whenever you ask about your first year of life living in Miami.’ This also might be a gift to your friend Gianna; will you find a time to share it with her?

    Liked by 2 people

  11. I like the framing here around the sweetener pumps and also how you are looking around and noticing the scene around you while others are busy staring into their phones.

    Like

  13. I love you both so much. My life is better because of my Ana and my Gianna — and I hope any future children of mine have many Anas and Giannas in their lives!

    Like

Leave a comment