March 12, 2013,
Dear Grandson,
I have been doing a lot of thinking.
You are very special to me. My name is your middle name. You will remember me forever. So, maybe we should get to know each other better.
Addie, I know you are eight years olds. Maybe your mommy can help you read what I am about to write.
I worry that I am missing out on too much of your life. But, I live in Arizona, a long way away, and I do not get to see you very much.
In the past, distance wasn’t such a big problem because people wrote letters. For example, this is a letter. Letters are great. Letters are a great way to communicate with each other. Letters give you time to think about all of the things that interest you. They allow you to talk, silently of course. They make it easy to share. They make it easier to teach. They can be fun. They allow you to really get to know another person. I really want to know you, Addie, and I want you to have an opportunity to know me.
Letters make something else also happen. They teach you how to write, even at your young age. Writing is a very important skill, no less important in your world than it was in mine. Nothing was more important in my working life than my ability to write. I taught myself how to write by not worrying about how I said something, but by just writing down my thoughts. Addie, there is no bad writing. There is no date too early to start writing – even if you get help.
So, my first purpose here is to invite you to be my “pen pal”, a special friend with whom you can exchange letters. To make this really easy for you, I am sending a return envelope, with the stamp already on it. I hope that this helps make it really easy.
I want to know everything you want to tell me about your life. How is school? What subjects do you enjoy? How do you get along with your friends?
What really interests you? I know you are taking sports classes. Is this fun? Does it make you feel strong? Do you like other sports?
What seems to get in your way? Are there things that frustrate you? Do you know how to get help?
Is there anything that you really need? Advice? Help with something? Support for something?
These questions seem a bit empty but they will become much more fun as we put the content of your answers into the package.
Writing letters at eight years old may be hard. Let’s see what we can do.
As you know, Debi and I live in Arizona. Debi’s health is not very good. She is unlucky. She lives with a lot of physical pain. It is not her fault. There was nothing she could do about it. This takes away her energy. So, our life is much simpler than the life I used to lead. We don’t travel as much as we would like.
So, I spend a lot of time reading – newspapers, magazines and books. I golf twice a week, and practice in between. I stay in touch with friends. I talk with people. I exercise almost every day. I watch a lot of sports. I go to Church on Sunday. I also do some work. My life is pretty good but I wish it included more face time with you and your family.
As we write to each other, I will share a lot more of my life with you, as you share your life with me. I have lived a long time. I have learned a lot, from both my mistakes and from my successes. There have been plenty of both. My life has been very full, and I want to share it with you.
So, please, when you feel like it, write me and share your life with me. I guarantee you that if you experiment with this it will change your life forever.
