thoughts of got milk?

shared by VJ Rabuy, her sister

I recently earned a gold card at Starbucks. It feels foolish to think that I’ve spent so many dollars on Starbucks beverages, but earning that 30th star was a big deal for me. It reminds me of a time when Cyn and I earned enough points for “got milk?” gear.

The “got milk?” campaign has undoubtably been a hit. I think it started more than 15 years ago. Cyn and I learned about a points and prize system probably through Seventeen magazine or a Saturday morning cartoon commercial.

We obtained an order form and worked hard to buy milk. It must have taken us 6 or 7 months and 11 receipts, but we finally earned enough points for our “got milk?” gear. Each milk product bought earned one point.

We chose a tank and undie for Cyn and I got a “got milk?” shirt and a bucket hat. I still have the hat, but don't know where the shirt is.

We went to take pictures in our swag and on the way to the studio decided to get just the right prop... milk cartons!! I'm still enjoying milk today, just not saving the receipts.

thoughts of a lovely bag lady

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

While Cindy was at UCLA, she was involved in numerous activities. We lived together while she was in school, and I have several memories of dropping her off in the morning on campus, as she began her typically busy day of classes, meetings, practices and other daily activities.

Oftentimes, she would be carrying her backpack full of schoolwork, her purse/bag full of personal necessities, a lunch bag, a reusable water bottle, maybe a gym bag with workout gear, and maybe even a shopping bag with items for a meeting or something she was going to give to a friend. I'm not sure when it started, but we both began to affectionately refer to her as "a bag lady" since she was so regularly toting around so many different bags, and basically just lots of stuff.

As I was leaving for work yesterday morning and I went to give my daughter Ava a hug and kiss, she told me, "You look like a bag lady, like Tita Cyn." I had my backpack with my laptop, a lunch bag, my jacket, keys in hand, and another little reusable bag with a brush, sunscreen and other items I would use and leave in the car.

Although it was a random, passing moment, it was a rather heartwarming one because it made me so proud to think that Tita Cyn's nieces knew about her. I was so happy to be reminded that my kids knew about, learned about and remembered their aunt... both the remarkable things that she accomplished, as well as the silly, random, yet meaningful moments - like being called a bag lady, that she shared with her sisters.