Gingerbread Baby - Elmira/New York Letter

Dear Mrs. McWilliams, Boys and Girls, and Joshua,

Hi!!! I am Joshua Doolittle’s Gingerbread Boy, I was sent to New York State to visit.  I learned all sorts of things on my stay there, like ……… when I went to Albany, the states capital. There I meet George E. Pataki the governor and he gave me this New York State flag I am holding.  He told me that the state motto Excelsior, which is written on the flag, means “Ever Upward”.  After that I went to New York City, were I saw the tallest building ever.  It was the Empire State Building, it has 102 stories and from the top I could see New York States longest river, the Hudson River. Not all 315 miles of it, but some of it.  Traveling in the car I got to see lots of fall colored hills and valleys. We passed by apple orchards, dairy farms and lots of wild life.  No wonder New York States fruit is the apple and the state drink is milk. They are both two of my favorite things to eat, plus they help keep me healthy.

Joshua’s Uncle LOVES to fish.  He took me fishing and I caught the state fish, a brook trout, kind of like the one on my hat. Good thing there are over 4000 lakes and ponds in New York State for him to fish in.  I am soooooo glad I took my camera with us, because we spotted a blue bird and I got a great picture.  Can you find New York States bird on my shirt? On our way back from fishing, a ladybug landed on me. Did you know that ladybugs are really beetles? What a cool state insect.  There is a lot to learn and do in New York. It would take a much longer visit to do it all. I have brought back a rose for Mrs. McWilliams. It is tucked into the side of my hat. Guess which state flower it is? Did you guess New York State? If so…. you are right.

I made a new friend, named Elmira. She is a Gingerbread Baby Girl.  Elmira is also the name of a city in New York State were I stayed.  I brought back a map of New York State and colored the area in where Elmira would be. Do you want to meet her?  Well here she is…………….

Hi Everyone! Thank you for letting me come and visit all of you.  Not only did Joshua’s Gingerbread Boy learn about New York State, he got to learn about Elmira, New York too. Elmira is very close to the Finger Lakes area. Can you count the number of Finger Lakes pictured on my bib? There are eleven, but Seneca Lake is the closest to Elmira. I bet there are some race car fans here!! Watkins Glen at the end of Seneca Lake is where they hold the Winston 500 NASCAR Race at the Watkins Glen Race Track. Too loud for me.  Grapes grow very well all around the Finger Lakes.  I like grape juice, do you?  Some famous people use to live in Elmira, like Eileen Collins. She is a girl astronaut!!! Tommy Hilfiger, a fashion designer, Mark Twain an author whose study you can visit at Elmira College.  Have you heard of Tedd Arnold? He is the author of the book in my hand titled Parts. It is so funny. He just lives a few blocks from Joshua’s Uncles house.  I can’t read yet, but I LOVE to be read to. Do you? When I am a little bigger I can go to Harris Hill and fly in a glider plane. They don’t have any motors.  I am still little and have a lot more to learn.  But I could grow up and be an astronaut, a race car driver, an author, a pilot or what ever else I dream of.  I had better take a nap now; I am tired from the long trip.

Bye

Thank you Aunt Leslie, Uncle Ernie, Adina, and Amelia.