Wednesday Sept. 19, 2007

Dear Jordy:

I am sorry that I didn't get down to Florida in the summer this year and be with you on your first day at school. I really missed spending some time with you but hope that I can make it down later this year or you can visit me. I decided to go back to the cottage for a number of reasons. I have to get my ear operated again and decided to get a medical checkup before more damage is done.

I traveled as far as Maine and then went back to Canada through New Hampshire and Vermont. When in NH I visited Paul and went on a great hike with her and her friend Bill. You can read about my trip their on my journal page. Paula would like you to come for a visit. She lives on a huge lake that is surrounded by small mountains.

I hope one day we can go hiking in Acadia National Park together in Maine. There are lots of ladder hikes, which is where the rock face is so steep that steel ladders are embedded in the rock face for short sections to help the climbers get up.

Congratulations on being selected to play on a football team. Look forward to talking to you about the position you are playing and what you have to do in training.

I bought an old science book that I am going to give you when we get together. It has a lot of neat experiments that we can do together. You may have already done some them at school. Some are like the one you showed me with the soda to propel a projectile.

I hear that your Dad is moving again. I think he is trying to match my record. When I came to Canada I moved 32 times in fours years. Then I lived in the same house on Maybourne Avenue for 28 years. I hope you enjoy your new place and that one day your Dad buys another house - maybe the one he is moving to?

I thought of you a lot after we met at Jason's wedding. I was very proud of you and the way that you fitted so well into all the functions, and the way that you got on so well with all the people that you met. And, you absolutely amazed me with your signing at the Kareoke. So now I have to learn to sing to keep up with you.

Remember the challenge I gave you that I will be able to beat in a running race even as you get older. I still keep in good shape swimming and cycling, although I am not running as much. You will have to give me your times so that I know what target I have to keep ahead of.

That's it for now. Big hugs, Grandpa Fred.