The Gift of Imagination !!

Some people leave behind songs. Some leave behind stories. And some leave behind a legacy that quietly changes lives.

Besides being an incredible singer and storyteller, Dolly Parton created the Imagination Library, giving children the gift of a book every month.

My children were proud recipients of those books for several years. Each child received their very own book, and they would look forward to that book arriving every month—even before they could read.

Those books became part of one of my favorite rituals of motherhood: reading to my children every night.

Looking back, I realize how much those quiet moments meant to me. Reading to my children was my solace, my little escape from the chaos of motherhood, and one of the things I miss the most now that those days are behind me. I didn't save them all but I did save a few books.

Thank you, Dolly, for giving so many children the gift of imagination, and for giving parents like me countless precious bedtime memories.

May your soul rest in peace, Dolly.

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