A Little Women Story

Amazing how you believe one thing for years, and then open a book, and discover something else. I always told people my Dad bought my first adult book, a copy of Little Women, when I was in first grade. Then, today, I opened up that book, and saw the date July 1964 in the front of it. Dad bought that book for me in the summer after first grade. My mother said she thought it was after my first report card as well, but she said he must have bought it after my last report card from first grade. That doesn't spoil the fact that Dad bought me a book I couldn't yet read, knowing I'd read it someday, and the fact that I always cherished it.

Little Women has always been special to me. Is there a girl who read that book and didn't want to be Jo? I went to see the play seven or eight years ago, at the Naples Philharmonic. It was good, but it wasn't as special as the book.

Then two years ago, my Mom gave me a little box with a bookmark in it, and the box was lined with endpapers from Little Women. A priceless gift, filled with memories.

This year, Mom outdid herself. She wanted to be SKYPEd when I opened one particular box from her last night. When she told me the story, and I sat and cried, she said she didn't mean to make me cry. Mom and my sister, Linda, went to a craft show, and came across a woman who made purses from book covers. By the time Linda said you should get Little Women for Lesa, and they went back, it was gone. So, Mom placed an order for a purse made from the book covers, the front, the spine, and the back of the book. Isn't it gorgeous?


And, here's my original copy of Little Women, my first adult book, alongside the purse (which I will never actually use). Thank you, Mom. Thanks for memories.



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Addendum - My mother sent me the name, phone number and website for the woman who makes these purses. I know at least one reader asked. Her name is Gina Marie, phone #708-825-3273 www.ginamariehandbags.com

And, Mom told me something I didn't remember. Little Women means a great deal to my mother as well. Her oldest sister named her after Beth.