242 Comments

My grandparents had a similar routine, my grandfather was in the Navy for 30 years and it made him an early riser even after he retired, he'd be up at 5 am, going for a walk, baking bread and then in bed by 9 am every night. My grandmother, on the other hand, was a bohemian, staying up late into the night, talking and drinking with friends or painting into the wee hours and sleeping till noon. Their differences made their marriage work for more than 60 years. As a child visiting them, my grandfather would take me out to breakfast in the mornings and I'd spend evenings with my grandmother, dancing to rock music and talking, looking at her beautiful paintings.

Expand full comment

A luminous photo by Buddy, a well deserved rest for you. Thanks so much for the daily dose of clarity and insight you bring us in these troubled times.

Expand full comment

These glimpses into the life of the person behind the words make the words all the more resonant. And Buddy's luminous photographs leave us with a tranquil sense of place from where the words spring.

Expand full comment

His, the sun

Yours, the moon

Such soft keen light

As you inhabit

A single sky

Expand full comment

Thanks Heather for sharing this wonderful photo from Buddy. Also, thank you for all you do. Much appreciated.

Be safe, be well always.

Expand full comment

Unexpected bonus of the Biden Presidency: Heather gets a weekly night off and we get a weekly photo from Buddy Poland!

Expand full comment

Since today’s post is a fill-in-the-blank, here’s some news about my story project. In the last few weeks it has been galloping along.

My wife gives me one appointment a week to get her advice and criticism re: progress on my project. My normally skeptical sweetheart is becoming a rabid fan of the story. During our last appointment, she shocked me by suggesting we remove the dining room table and chairs, put them in the basement, and replace with a solid tropical hardwood banker’s desk that has been hiding in storage forever. Can you believe that? She thinks we should park a desk I’ve never been able to use (lack of space, no office) in the dining area so that I can work on the book-and-movie, since there’s no office for me. I am flabbergasted. I am flabbergasted because (A) she is suggesting turning the dining area into an office for my book project and (B) clearly it’s because she is so excited about the story. Well, she’s finally seeing it my way. I have been telling her for awhile that I know it’s a world-class project, and probably the hottest thing on the planet, and now she sees the evidence and agrees.

You never know what’s going to happen next.

Expand full comment

Beautiful photo. My late husband and I were like that too. Because of him and work schedules, I tried hard to follow him. Now that he’s gone I seem to be moving more and more to my own flow. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes is makes me sad. Sweet dreams.

Expand full comment

Buddy, thank you for this serene sunrise. With its band of water, reflection of orange light, the dark land on the horizon meets with the airy color of salmon at the start of day; a delicate crescent moon breaks prettily through the quiet blue sky and trees front the scene. There is a lot to see, and, yet, the photo reflects peace. It is a beautiful ending to an intense week.

Heather, with deep knowledge and a light hand, you took us through time using historical markers to reflect the roots and flow of the country's challenges. Your week's work needs to be reread. So much is packed on each page, and life in America today is heavy. Crosscurrents have jumped from the dictionary page as they now seem to characterize the nation's dilemma. Thank you Heather for your rich illumination at this time

Expand full comment

Dear Dr Cox Richardson: I’m wondering if you will compile all Letters From An American into a volume at some point — they weave a story about this time, and the past, that I would like to have and pass along. History books are certainly good but your writing is interesting, compelling and draws the reader in. I much appreciate the historic context you provide.

Many thanks

Expand full comment

Buddy takes beautiful photos!

Expand full comment

Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Those of us in Buddy's camp are grateful for those of you in Dr. R's camp who keep watch into the night. As you slumber, we rise early and continue the watch til we both meet again into the day!

P.S. I hope Buddy never loses his camera!

Expand full comment

From April 6 through 20 we're in an impressive run of major Civil War anniversaries. No doubt there are others beyond what's here.

Apr 6-7, 1862 -- Shiloh

Apr 9, 1865 -- Appomattox

Apr 12, 1861 -- Fort Sumter

Apr 14, 1865 -- Lincoln assassinated

Apr 15, 1861 -- Lincoln calls for volunteers

Apr 20, 1861 -- Great Union Rally, 250,000 in NYC's Union Square

[E and B Long, The Civil War Day By Day]

What's needed in our current Time of Troubles is the same spirit and resolve that sustained the North in the successful effort to restore the union and destroy slavery. There will be casualties (there are already -- RIP Heather Heyer and Brian Sicknick), but this time victory can be won with far less suffering and bloodshed, a sweeter triumph.

Expand full comment

Same time zone issues at our house but we’re both retired so we do share some afternoon and early evening time. Since we’re both introverts, we each get our required alone time. Ain’t love grand!!!!

Expand full comment

I was lucky enough to catch the same moon view Thursday morning at about 5:30, in California. I love seeing how it looked in Maine. Thanks so much for this, and for your wonderful, insightful letters.

Expand full comment

We call it “ships passing in the night.” I get home from work around 4 a.m., then in the afternoon I’m up and about and gearing up while my wife is winding down. Ah well, like someone else said, we’re both introverts so it serves us well. For now. Retirement is coming up, then things will change.

Expand full comment