Why?

rosie is my neighbor and she is two. when you ask how old she is, her big brother fletcher chimes in to say "she is two. one year for each eye." she weighs 28 pounds and has big blue eyes and white blond hair. her favorite phrase is "i love you". and she has become my dear friend.



rosie and i spent last saturday together. there was a garage sale going on in her driveway and mine, but the best part of the day was talking to rosie. and better than best was what rosie taught me about life, conversation, and relationships.



tell rosie something and she usually responds with "why?" and then you offer more information and rosie says "why?" i understand this is a two year old thing.



but i got to thinking about it. what if we used that question more often, "why?". think of what we would learn when we gently force the issue of why someone is thinking the way that they are.



"how are you?" WHY? (are you making conversation or how much do you want to know?)



"what time will you be home?" WHY? are you planning a special surprise for me or do you need to throw the dancing girls out)



"i love you." WHY? ok now we are getting somewhere.



rosie and her family are moving soon, far away but not that far. i shall miss seeing her tiny feet grow into the next size of slippers, i'll miss her long lashes and how they brush her cheeks when she blinks them.



but you go on rosie, keep asking why. and next year when i see you again, i can't wait to hear what you've learned.