Charlotte, thank you for this. I have so many thoughts and feelings about it. Too many. I’m so glad you’re speaking up. We need to talk. How lucky you were to have your grandparents, how beautiful you are with those roses, and I’m voting Harris/Walz to prevent an unwanted presidency.
Thanks for reading, Gina! I so appreciate you & your thoughts. One thing that bothers me about Harris/Walz (and there are more) is that she didn’t get a single vote to become the nominee. She was chosen by the Democratic and Hollywood elite. That definitely is not democracy. So many things about how that all went down don’t pass the smell test. I’d like a woman as president. But not her. Hugs to you, friend!
I hear you Charlotte. I've struggled with how completely petrified I am of the possible outcome of this election. However I went to see the venerable James McBride speak a couple of months ago. He's been honored by both a Republican and Democrat president, and adores Laura Bush for her support of books and libraries. Anyway, someone in the audience asked him what we should be reading right now (outside his books) and he said something like, "well you don't have much time, but it would be, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. So I know I'm not alone in my panic. There is also a great short story written by George Saunders, published in The New Yorker in March, 2020, Love Letter. This subject. Not sure if this link works, but he narrates, and I love hearing him read it. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/love-letter-george-saunders?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely read it. I feel like there’s an over abundance of propaganda and we have to dig and read and rely on independent journalists because it’s obvious the legacy media is censoring information.
Love reading this so much. The VW was red! I remember him letting me drive it around in the yard. Yes, he never raised his voice or talked negatively about anyone. We are blessed with those beautiful memories.
I so wish we could all just be kind & respectful to each other too. I don’t understand so much hate.
Such lovely memories of your grandfather. Alas, all my grandparents died before I was born or when I was fairly young so I have few memories. I did, however, have a neighbor who was like a surrogate grandfather to me and my sibs. Mostly good memories although if I played with kids he didn’t like, he’d ban me from his house for awhile. As far as the vitriol in our society these days, for me it started when Mitch McConnell flat out said, after Obama was elected and before he officially took office, that he’d make sure none of the president’s proposed legislation would pass. It didn’t matter if Republicans would otherwise agree with the legislation, they just didn’t want to give Obama any “wins.” When Obama was first elected, I thought that perhaps our country really had turned a corner, that we had really (and finally) evolved, and perhaps it had, but Obama’s election also brought out the racists. It’s not like I didn’t know they existed, but I didn’t expect such a backlash by them. In hindsight, that was naive of me. Obama’s election gave fuel to the fire of white nationalism and white supremacy. Obama was a good president but he could have done so much more if the Republicans like McConnell hadn’t obstructed him … and I do believe that McConnell obstructed him out of racism. I don’t believe he would have been as antithetical to a white Democrat. I can’t wait until this election is over.
My husband never knew his grandparents either. That's sad because they add so much to your young life.
Marie, Obama was the last dignified president we had. I want someone like that again, someone who treats others with respect and is respected himself. I want someone who actually puts the people of their country first and has our best interests in mind. I believe he was genuine. I can not say that about anyone running now. I don't feel safe in my country anymore and haven't for this entire administration. I'm an Independent swing voter who is not voting. I don't feel guilty either because neither party is giving me a decent choice. So it's on them.
Doesn’t it? I miss the days when no one knew who others voted for or supported. Or cared. Was that a dream? Or maybe I was just clueless. I was rather unpolitical in my younger days. :)
What wonderful memories 💖 Yes, it’ll take a miracle but my prayer is that the genie of ugliness and hatred can be corked up in the bottle and hidden away where nobody can ever find it again.
Charlotte, thank you for this. I have so many thoughts and feelings about it. Too many. I’m so glad you’re speaking up. We need to talk. How lucky you were to have your grandparents, how beautiful you are with those roses, and I’m voting Harris/Walz to prevent an unwanted presidency.
Thanks for reading, Gina! I so appreciate you & your thoughts. One thing that bothers me about Harris/Walz (and there are more) is that she didn’t get a single vote to become the nominee. She was chosen by the Democratic and Hollywood elite. That definitely is not democracy. So many things about how that all went down don’t pass the smell test. I’d like a woman as president. But not her. Hugs to you, friend!
I hear you Charlotte. I've struggled with how completely petrified I am of the possible outcome of this election. However I went to see the venerable James McBride speak a couple of months ago. He's been honored by both a Republican and Democrat president, and adores Laura Bush for her support of books and libraries. Anyway, someone in the audience asked him what we should be reading right now (outside his books) and he said something like, "well you don't have much time, but it would be, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. So I know I'm not alone in my panic. There is also a great short story written by George Saunders, published in The New Yorker in March, 2020, Love Letter. This subject. Not sure if this link works, but he narrates, and I love hearing him read it. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/love-letter-george-saunders?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely read it. I feel like there’s an over abundance of propaganda and we have to dig and read and rely on independent journalists because it’s obvious the legacy media is censoring information.
Love reading this so much. The VW was red! I remember him letting me drive it around in the yard. Yes, he never raised his voice or talked negatively about anyone. We are blessed with those beautiful memories.
I so wish we could all just be kind & respectful to each other too. I don’t understand so much hate.
Love you, sister!❤️💚🩷💜💙
Such lovely memories of your grandfather. Alas, all my grandparents died before I was born or when I was fairly young so I have few memories. I did, however, have a neighbor who was like a surrogate grandfather to me and my sibs. Mostly good memories although if I played with kids he didn’t like, he’d ban me from his house for awhile. As far as the vitriol in our society these days, for me it started when Mitch McConnell flat out said, after Obama was elected and before he officially took office, that he’d make sure none of the president’s proposed legislation would pass. It didn’t matter if Republicans would otherwise agree with the legislation, they just didn’t want to give Obama any “wins.” When Obama was first elected, I thought that perhaps our country really had turned a corner, that we had really (and finally) evolved, and perhaps it had, but Obama’s election also brought out the racists. It’s not like I didn’t know they existed, but I didn’t expect such a backlash by them. In hindsight, that was naive of me. Obama’s election gave fuel to the fire of white nationalism and white supremacy. Obama was a good president but he could have done so much more if the Republicans like McConnell hadn’t obstructed him … and I do believe that McConnell obstructed him out of racism. I don’t believe he would have been as antithetical to a white Democrat. I can’t wait until this election is over.
My husband never knew his grandparents either. That's sad because they add so much to your young life.
Marie, Obama was the last dignified president we had. I want someone like that again, someone who treats others with respect and is respected himself. I want someone who actually puts the people of their country first and has our best interests in mind. I believe he was genuine. I can not say that about anyone running now. I don't feel safe in my country anymore and haven't for this entire administration. I'm an Independent swing voter who is not voting. I don't feel guilty either because neither party is giving me a decent choice. So it's on them.
Loved learning about your grandfather--and those pictures!
I, too, gasped at the memory of "you lie!" I can't believe how tame that sounds in the current times.
Doesn’t it? I miss the days when no one knew who others voted for or supported. Or cared. Was that a dream? Or maybe I was just clueless. I was rather unpolitical in my younger days. :)
What wonderful memories 💖 Yes, it’ll take a miracle but my prayer is that the genie of ugliness and hatred can be corked up in the bottle and hidden away where nobody can ever find it again.
I join you in that prayer, Padre.
Wonderful memories. Reminds me of my grandpa.
Aw, I’m glad to hear that, Jeff!