Around this time of year, a number of years ago, I received in the mail a drawing from my 3-year-old granddaughter. It was sent from her child care center. At the top was a note she dictated to her teacher, letting me know that the scribbles, lines and circles said “I love you, Grandma Hedda.” What a treasure!
I thought maybe the letter was part of a Thanksgiving Day activity. But it wasn’t. It was about the mail. The children were to make pictures to send in the mail to people they love. And I have to say that, with all the e-mails and text messages these days, there’s still something heartwarming about receiving a handwritten “love note” or a “thank-you note” in the mail.
I told my granddaughter how much it meant to me to get her caring message in the mail. I also made it a point to thank her teacher for giving her (and the other children) the encouragement to express their love – and not just on birthdays, Thanksgiving Day or other holidays. I couldn’t help but think about one of our favorite Neighborhood songs about “Many Ways to Say I love you.”
Transition Times
February 2024: The other day in the dentist's office, I found myself quoting a Fred song - "I like to be told." I was thanking the hygienist for letting me know what to expect, each step of the way. As Fred sang, "It helps me to get ready for all those things that are new...I trust you more and more..."
January 2024: We live in a world where we've come to expect instant gratification. We expect immediate answers to our emails. We expect next-day deliveries for our online orders. We expect our microwaved food to be ready in seconds. No wonder we get upset when we have to wait.
A Special Gift for Mr. McFeely...and messages for us all
December 2023: This month the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is giving a special gift to our very own "Speedy Delivery," David Newell, whom we all know as "Mr. McFeely." We're proud to announce that David will be inducted into the National Academy's Gold Circle at the Emmy's Children and Family...
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