This conversation took place with my granddaughter Josie at Hawrelak Park in Edmonton when she was just a toddler. She is now 10 years of age, having just celebrated her birthday in November. When she was born, and in the months that followed, friends and family wrote her letters that represented their experience of having her in the world. Mary kept those letters and for Josie’s 10th birthday, constructed an altered book, with dedicated pages to each of the people who wrote letters. Each page has a pocket into which the original letter was inserted. This is the letter I wrote.

Josie: Gwampa, I could walk in that puddle.

Me: Yes, you could Josie, because you are wearing your red boots.

Josie: I could walk in the puddle in my sandals.

Me: Well, Josie, you would get wet feet. Red boots are for puddles.

Josie: I could walk in that water, Gwampa.

Me: Well Josie, that is a pond. You could walk in puddles but only in your red boots.

Josie: There is some brown water, Gwampa. Ducks could swim in brown water.

Me: Yes, that is a river. Ducks could swim in it. You could walk in puddles because you have your red boots.

Josie: Let’s walk this way, Gwampa.

Me: It’s the wrong way, Josie.

Josie: I could walk the wrong way.

Me: Yes, you could, Josie

Dear Josie,

You could, and undoubtedly will, choose your own way. The “wrong” way is only someone else’s idea anyway.

Love,

Grandpa