Gratitude Girl

Dear Looloo: You've been on my mind... You entered this world at 3:15am on January 31 st , 2011. I held you in my gloved hand only seconds later and cut your umbilical cord. You were the cutest puppy – white and tiny with pink ears and paws. You happened to be in my arms when you opened your eyes two weeks later, and I was honored to be the first person to make eye contact with you. You took your first steps a few days after that, and you were already a big boy, walking alongside your mother and father. It wasn't long before you started talking, too. I am so grateful to have witnessed all that. Thank you for always protecting me by jumping in front of me, growling and barking at any stranger that looks my way. Thank you for all the foot massages. Thank you for looking at me with your gorgeous eyes. Thank you for following me everywhere. Thank you for your beautiful smile. Thank you for loving me. I love you and I am grateful for every second with you. Love... Noosha Ravag...

Dear Shohreh: You've been on my mind... I met you in high school, over three decades ago. You were the smartest girl in class, and I picked your brain every chance I got. You were always helpful and answered any question I had related to any subject we studied. Even though you moved to another city to go to medical school and we didn't see each other after high school, I've always remembered you and your big smile. I feel so grateful to have had you in my life. You taught me so much and always did so kindly and patiently. Thank you for all your help throughout high school. I always knew I could count on you to explain what I didn't understand in class – and you did it so well! We've been connected through social media for years, but I'm not sure I ever really thanked you for everything you did. Please know that I appreciate you... and always have. Love... Noosha Ravaghi

Dear Hoppoo: You've been on my mind... Thank you for adopting me that day, over eleven years ago, when I came to your house to take your sister home with me. You knew I needed you, so you just followed me until I picked you up and brought you home. Later that same day, you looked deep into my eyes and a magical connection happened. Since that moment, you have been my companion. Thank you for being such a good dog! You and I have taken long walks together, just the two of us. Thank you for walking with me. We have danced in each other's arms during thunderstorms. Thank you for dancing with me. We have played soccer together day after day. Thank you for playing with me. We have fought and made up a thousand times. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. We have laid our heads on the same pillow night after night. Thank you for resting with me -- and for waking me up with a million kisses every morning. Thank you for teaching your son how to play ball and licking his face every m...

Dear Bababozorg: You've been on my mind... It's been nearly two decades since you left us, but I remember everything about you so vividly. I remember your stories, your pranks, your pet peeves, your sense of humor, and your habits. You were a remarkable human being and a wonderful grandfather. Thank you for that! You and I always had a special bond; we didn't need many words to communicate. Thank you for always supporting me and having my back. You were my rock. The last time we saw each other was at the hospital. At times you called me by my name and thanked me for being there. Other times, you looked me in the eyes but couldn't remember my name and when I asked, you would say, "Love... Your name is Love." You could always handle any situation, even on your worst days. I'm so grateful to have had you as my grandpa. I'm grateful for all the love, all the joy, and all the beautiful memories.  I love you, Bababozorg! Noosha Ravaghi

Dear Mamanbozorg: You've been on my mind... You are always present in my heart and in my thoughts. I have so many memories of you. You always took care of all your children, and when they had their own babies, you took care of them, too. You really went out of your way for me, though, and I will never forget that. You looked after me at various stages of my life, and, no matter how old I was, you always spoiled me and showered me with love in every way a grandmother possibly could. Thank you for all the memories... They are all of love and joy. I remember we had so much fun when we took the train together; I remember laughing uncontrollably when you scrubbed my feet; I remember you preparing all my favorite dishes and sweets every single time I visited; I remember your remedies; I remember you getting up in the middle of the night to accompany me to the bathroom when I was afraid to go by myself in that huge house; I remember you playing with my hair until I fell asleep; I remem...

Dear Koochooloo: You've been on my mind... I've known you since you were born – over eleven years ago. In fact, I was looking forward to your arrival into this world. I remember the first time I held you. You were such a tiny little girl! I didn't want you to be alone at home when I left for work, so I brought your brother home with us. You were – and still are – such a beautiful dog! You were black and white and had a black spot right on the top of your head between your giant rabbit ears, and you had gorgeous eyes with long curled eyelashes. You were tough, with a mind of your own, and I could tell from the very beginning you didn't want to be held or told what to do. You kept your distance and just watched me for weeks. It wasn't until you hit your head against the stairs playing with your brother that you let me hold you and comfort you. From that day on, you have loved me, taken care of me, kept me warm on cold nights, licked my wounds, and stayed by my side. T...

Dear Denis: You've been on my mind... I met you on Twitter in 2019, and one of our first exchanges was about P.G. Wodehouse. I immediately noticed a mixture of intelligence and sarcasm in your tweets and got your book, The Awful Truth about the Sushing Prize . To be honest, it was the line When Idiots Fight Crime on the cover that got my attention, because of my personal experience in real life with such crime fighters. After reading your book, I realized I'd found a remarkable mind and didn't want to let go. Two years later, I'm still reading and re-reading your brilliantly written books and I still look forward to your tweets and to interacting with you... but I'm also extremely grateful for you. Thank you for introducing me to ocramism, for coaching me, and, above all, for being my friend. Even though you live on another continent and we've never met in person, you checked on me regularly while I had trouble breathing in 2020 and kept me company with your kin...