Rider’s Profile: Giffy Mimi

I intended this post to be fun, but I felt a pinch of sadness by the time I finished. May this bring smile to the faces of grownups who still know how to imagine like a child.

rider’s name: Giffy Mimi
also known as: Mother Giffy
ride: “Vespie,” the pink Vespa
homebase: our bedroom
job: my daughter’s travel companion & sleeping buddy

more about the rider: “Vespie” should have been a part of my growing Vespa collection but since Giffy Mimi suffered the loss of her daughter, I figured she’ll appreciate the scooter more than me. You see, Giffy Mimi went with us in Hong Kong early this summer. She sat beside my daughter by the plane’s window along with her daughter, Giffy. For the experience, we boarded a double decker bus from the airport to our hotel. But as we went down the bus with all our luggages, Kite & Giffy Mimi realized that Giffy (the daughter) wasn’t with them anymore. It was the most terrible feeling. Kite & mother Giffy were obviously heartbroken and there’s nothing my wife & I could do. My wife & I know how much the Giffy family means to our daughter but the bus already left. My daughter was in tears all the way to the hotel lobby. Giffy Mimi remained silent throughout but I know how she truly felt. I advised my daughter to just leave Giffy Mimi in the room whenever we go out so that we’ll avoid losing her too. I don’t want her wandering around looking for her lost daughter. Now all we have are memories she left. Here she is at the start of my daughter’s birthday video.

Despite that unfortunate incident, Giffy Mimi still enjoyed the trip, so she tagged along again the next chance to be back in Hong Kong Disneyland (maybe it’s her way of coping). It was the same arrangement; she’ll be left in the room while my daughter goes to the theme park. When my wife asked the housekeeping in Disney Hollywood to make-up their room, they were pleasantly surprised with what they saw upon their return, they just had to take a snapshot.

Giffy Mimi looking at my daughter’s Autograph Book of Disney characters

The gesture was simple but it brought smiles in my wife & daughter’s faces. When I saw the picture, I understood what ‘magic’ Disneyland brings to people. With this image, Hong Kong is not anymore the city where Giffy Mimi lost her daughter, but a place where she bounced back to life.

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Thanks to our friend (Grace G.) for bringing Vespie to Giffy Mimi’s life. This pink Vespa is a scooter pillow designed by Nicole Miller.

08.05.07 UPDATE: There’s a happy ending to this story posted here.

Be back in a Giffy!

-o-
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J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com