A Bridge Among the Flowers

To my dear and beautiful granddaughter,

I've needed to write this letter to you for a long time now. I just didn't have the words. I'm not sure if I even do now. But this is my feeble attempt. Forgive me if I don't use the proper pronoun or gender when I am referring to the "you" that I know and love. I'm new at this and still very confused in my "Boomer-ness." I think you already know that I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around these concepts. But it doesn't minimize my love and adoration for you.

You popped into my life as my first grandchild and I was over the moon. Your cute little face was like chocolate to me, and I wanted to eat you all up. You made me laugh and smile and I wanted to give you the moon and the stars. You made everything "right" in my world.

Your love for me was evident, too. We loved spending every minute together that we could. You were my person. And when my other grands came along, they all just blended into Nana's garden of beautiful flowers, each unique and special in their own rights. Each one fits in perfectly and is "included."

When I looked at you, my little flower...I saw someone who loved their family with their whole being, passionately and unyielding in loyalty.

I also saw a romantic dreamer of sorts who loved to read, write, and draw. (And was very good at all three.) You were a mystical, old soul in a petite blond body.

The laughter and love within your eyes filled any room with a sweet aroma.

This has always been your essence. No matter how many tattoos you might have, or how you choose to wear your hairstyle, in color or length; no matter what you might wear...either baggy "manly" clothes or "feminine" feathers, your essence doesn't change who you are.

You need not my approval nor my acceptance to be the "you" that you want others to see, the "you" that you approve of and accept as "yourself." Be the best essence you can be...the outside hardly matters, anyway. Love yourself and love God, too. Love others...even the "difficult-to-love" ones.

Know that I will eternally love you, my sweet and lovely grandchild!

I hope all youth (especially the ones who might be going against the grain of a society in which is considered the norm,) has a family and friends that loves them unreservedly and eternally, too. There is no room for hate in a world that was meant to be full of love.

I pray that God will provide a hedge of protection around your bodies and your hearts, as well as my grandchild's. Nobody has the right to harm you!

This letter comes from my heart, the old Boomer, the Conservative, the Pro-Lifer, the Christian, and all the other pronouns and descriptors in which you might not understand or agree with, either. Love will find a way!

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As Oneg In The Arctic states, "And so, this challenge is a meaningful, impactful, and even personal one. We want you to join us in making a difference. Even if it validates just one queer youth. It takes one to change the world."

So, this Boomer wants to take this time to make a difference in the life of her grandchild and other children struggling to find their true identity with this message...your essence is valuable, worthy, has much to offer the world, worth fighting for and protecting. May we all be kind and seek to understand one another.