Princesses

We live in North Carolina, our grandchildren in Illinois. It’s not a grandparent’s ideal, but we do what we can to stay in touch. We visit when we are able, do the occasional phone call, and Skype at every possible opportunity. But one of the most fun things we do is send to our three-year-old granddaughter a weekly picture postcard – a Because it’s Monday card.

Our postcards are not the kind you buy in the store or pick up while on vacation. They are images that we capture around here - wildlife, flowers, crafts, bugs, family – the things that we experience each day and wish to share with our girl. We print a nice 4x6, slap on a stamp, an address, a brief greeting, our love, and snailmail it northward.

Sure, in this age of easy email and instantly imparted images on tiny screens, such an approach seems old fashioned. But we like to believe that receiving something in the real mail, something that can be held in the hand and saved in a drawer, is exciting for a three-year-old - that it's something she can look forward to each week - something special from Grandma and Grandpa. So we send the cards. Her little brother will begin getting them too, but we’re waiting until he’s more interested in the mailing’s picture than in its flavor.

This week, I rummaged through Mary’s camera in search of a photo of our spectacularly awakening forsythia. I found, and mailed instead, the picture above. It’s a shot she’d taken as I frittered away an afternoon tying striped bass flies in anticipation of the upcoming spring run. The image spoke to me of princesses.

And our granddaughter is just that, a princess. These sparkly pink streamers would be her fly of choice, without doubt, if princesses would be interested in such things. I sincerely hope that she grows into the kind of princess who is, who will share her grandfather’s fascination with the outdoors and the water and the sport. Time will tell.

In the meantime, we’ll just have to share other things, when we can, including one of our very favorites.

Nap time.

Looks like another good Because it’s Monday postcard to me.


A very special thanks to today’s guest photographer, my wife Mary, who, as you can see, has a good eye and a sneaky shutter finger.