For Spencer Shelley
Dearest Spence,
In keeping with tradition, I want very much to give you a letter of advice like the one I wrote for your brother in the dedication of my last book. But I can't. I'm so awed by your charm and entranced by your laughter, that I can't wait until your older so that I can ask you for advice. How do you make people smile whenever they look at you? I know where you got your eyes, but where did you get your joy? Where did you get so much magic?
I have so many questions to ask you, but you're only two now, so I'll have to wait for my answers. The only thing I know for certain is that you're going to chart your own course through life. And if that course happens to be one that causes great trepidation in the hearts of your parents, then you can count on me to soothe things over. In the meantime, I will give you this one little piece of grandmotherly advice: Don't let any of us change you.