An only child and the oldest granddaughter I was overindulged and sheltered by adoring  parents and relatives.  And  when things went
That didn’t work so well as an adult.
And things aren’t going so well these days. Â Political turmoil, war and poverty, Â mega fires, Â devastating floods, social upheaval, financial instability. Â And I must
I hear a lot these days about people  fleeing the country in desperation.  I understand  and share their  frustration.  We have a
But  I have to wonder how many of those  thinking of leaving the country  have lived in or  visited other countries for extended periods of time.  One look at the nightly news shows us that these are not problems specific to us;  they  exist the world over.  No country
Besides, we have so much to fight for, so much we take for granted. Â Our public education, flawed, but still a route out of
But it’s not free. Â To quote Edmund Burke,
           “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is  for good men to do nothing. “
 And it all counts.  Every thing we don’t say, every seed not planted, word not written,  neighbors’ pain ignored, adds to the turmoil, desperation and fear around us.  It might be uncomfortable, even dangerous to face our problems.  But we can’t afford to  pick up our toys and go home.