Letter to Elizabeth – 11.8.26 – pre-school

EJ,

I told you in my last letter back in April that I would write to you more often.  Well, it has now been over six months since my last letter.  I am sorry that I have not been more intentional in writing to you.  I could say I have been busy, which I have been, planning and taking trips to Italy and the Republic of Georgia, supporting the Louisa Education Foundation, working on the farm, working with clients, taking walks with Emmy Lou, writing essays, etc.  However, as Gizzy wisely says, that is no excuse.  We choose what we do with our precious time.  And whether we recognize it or not, what we choose to spend our time on is what we choose to prioritize. As a friend told me recently, time is the one thing we truly own.  So, we should be careful in what we choose to do with that precious gift.  I love you.  So, I must prioritize you and my letters to you. 

Henry David Thoreau in his writings said that most of us are sleepwalking through life most of the time. And we now have technologies that allow us to sleepwalk even more, allowing us to avoid what is truly important. So, I need to look around and be truly conscious of what is around me, especially when I am with you. And always pay attention to what matters in life – family, friends, community, spirituality, and health. Like you, I should keep moving and playing, learning and exploring, and loving and connecting.

Liza Jean, you may notice that I have written more letters to James than I have to you.  There are several reasons for this.  First, he was my only grandchild for several years, so it was easier to write letters to one person instead of two.  Secondly, as people get older, they in some ways become more interesting because they are doing more things.  For example, he started talking, playing soccer and attending kindergarten before you. So, those things sometimes trigger a letter.  Do not worry, you will catch up. 

Speaking of Kindergarten – this was your first year attending pre-school.  At first, you did not like being away from your parents and your home.  You stayed away from everyone for the first few weeks.  However, you have found your stride.  We knew you would.  You are a princess warrior.  You are independent and headstrong. You are bright and funny. Sometimes when you look at me, I can tell you are waiting for me to give you a wink or some other sign that it is now ok to be a little mischievous. And when I give you that sign, in whatever form it may take, and you give me back a certain smile, I know that you are also giving me permission to being a little mischievous.  Sometimes it is at the expense of Gizzy.  But I think she expects it.  Thank you for giving me a reason to be goofy and mischievous.

Not only are you funny, you are also very kind and selfless, which is saying a lot about a three-year old. I sometimes see you give things to your brother that I know you really want. And when those moments occur, my eyes sometimes water – not from a spec or something else in them – other than my love and adoration for you.

Growing up I had a cousin named Jessica Franklin who was one year older than me. I looked up to her and adored her.  She was like an older sister. She was what some people might call “bossy.” But she was also very smart and a born leader. I can see her in you.  And the most recent note from your teacher confirms this. In her note, she wrote, “She radiates brightness and possesses an impressive sense of humor that lights up our space.  Elizabeth loves to engage in pretend play with her peers and, often seen having her own group time. During these times, she joyfully ‘reads’ books to her friends, bringing stories to life with her expressive voice and animated gestures. Her eagerness to explore new activities and embrace challenges is truly inspiring.” That description of you also sounds a little like Teddy Roosevelt.

And, oh yes, you also turned three years old since my last letter. You wanted a Unicorn Birthday. Liza Jean, we do not know where this love of unicorns came from, but we do know that you love pretty things.  And so, Gizzy made a beautiful Unicorn Birthday cake.  That theme was special because Gizzy loved unicorns as a teenager. In fact, as I explained in a recent letter to James, while Gizzy and I were dating, I gave Gizzy a small fluffy unicorn, which she named J.R., short for Johnny Robert. Unfortunately, I missed your birthday party because I was in North Dakota attending a Teddy Roosevelt Associating meeting. I joined the association to honor your great-grandmother, Sarah, known as Mimi to you.  She, like me, is a great admirer of Theodore Roosevelt.  But guess what? I was able to be with you on your actual birthday, October 13^th.  And on that day, I gave you a fluffy unicorn.  I do not know what you will name it.  Maybe we can name it together the next time I am at your house. I am thinking T.R. because Mimi and I love and admire TR, and I gave it to you after a trip to celebrate TR.

Last night you and your brother stayed with us at the Lakehouse while your parents had some time to themselves. They played golf at your neighborhood golf course, Glenmore, and then went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  I found out this morning that this is the first round of golf that your mom has played at Glenmore since moving there two years ago! And your mom loves playing golf. As one of my friends told me once when he found out that I was not playing golf at the Homestead when it was already paid for, “That is totally unacceptable.”  The same is true for you mom.  We must find ways to allow her to enjoy the golf course more.  This is unacceptable.

Last night I decided to see if you two would like to watch an animated Japanese film put out by Studio Ghibli. Known for their beautiful animations and gentle tones, these films are full of wonder.  Your aunt Olivia and Uncle Jack love these films. So, we sat down in the theatre room and watched, “My Neighbor Totoro”, created in 1988.  You and James sat still for most of it, which meant that you must have enjoyed it. Liza Jean, you do love to wear pretty things. While watching the film, you asked about the yellow dress that the older sister Satduki was wearing and declared, “I want a dress like that!” You have become a fashion queen. So, we now have another nickname to add to Jellybean and Franklin Queen – Fashion Queen!  That said, your personality is more like the younger sister in the film whose name is Mei, who is often curious and stubborn, but who ends up discovering the friendly forest spirits first, especially Totoro, the large, furry forest spirit who befriends the two girls.

Remember when I told you to keep care of yourself and to keep your health.  I have been sick for the past two weeks with a severe chest cold.  I have heard that this is going around and I may be sick for another week. It comes with lots of coughing and low energy.  However, I managed to find the energy to have some playtime with you and your brother last night.  We even played “chase” in the great room.  Afterwards, I was exhausted, but it was worth it. I think we need these times of sickness so that we appreciate our health.  However, I think I have been sick long enough. I cannot wait to have my old energy back.  I really miss it. I have been even too tired to write.  The fact that I am writing this must mean that I am maybe getting better! 

This morning you and your brother had fun rearranging the furniture in the Great Room into one large make-believe house/fort. It even had a hot tub installed behind the two leather chairs, which you enjoyed jumping in. I think the sofa cushions from both sofas were the material of choice for the construction of said hot tub. James even brought down the basketball goal from upstairs – I guess that was your indoor gym. I do not know how your brother found the strength to move couches and heavy chairs from one end of the room to the other, but he did.  As I watched you and he expend so much energy into this project, I kept thinking that I wish I had that amount of energy right now. I had to take a photo during this endeavor so that people would believe you did this all by yourself. I would not have believed it unless I had seen this with my own eyes. I was kind of proud. But then it was time to leave. You and James were good sports about helping to put everything back in place.

One final memory that I want to share with you.  As I was talking on the phone this morning with your Gizzy after she dropped you and James off to be back with your parents, she told me how much she enjoyed having you with us.  And then she told me what you did this morning when you woke up.  You woke up, sat straight up in bed and then lay your head back down. And then proceeded to sing “Itsy bitsy Spider” – all of it. And as Gizzy lay next to your brother in the other bed, she smiled a very big smile. If I had been there, my eyes would have watered.

I hear that we will be watching the two of you again here at the Lakehouse next weekend.  I cannot wait.  Hopefully, I will have healed and will have much more energy.

With unconditional love,

Papa J