Heather, like many of your other readers, I feel the day had not truly begun until I've read your cogent synopsis of events and significances. I feel as if I've been graced by your insights for ages, but I know it cannot have been more than six months at most. In the last few months, I've come to appreciate the comments of your followers almost as much as yours and I'm very honored to be a member of such a kind and thoughtful crew. You have created this shared community, which is a lovely gift in itself. For all that you are doing, many, many thanks!
I wouldn't be able to make it through this craziness if it weren't for your daily letters. Thank you for helping to parse these events and place them in historical context.
And for those of us in the room who live abroad, these Letters from an American have a special resonance. Cut off as many of us are from regular conversation with other Americans, these Letters feel very personal: they are an emotional and intellectual lifeline to our home.
And finally, they are letters – and how many of us take the time and thought required to compose letters anymore? How blessed we are that this wise and thoughtful person, a Professor of History no less, sits down each night to write us these letters often accompanied as they are with photographs of the Maine coast – a place that for this expat, evokes memories of picking blueberries in a field on a warm summer day, or paddling in the icy waters of that stunning rocky coast at dawn, as close to heaven as I can imagine.
Agree! We have sailed the coast of Maine since 1996 and enjoyed a vacation home in Rockport for seven years. It is heaven on earth! We have not been back via land since 2015. Next weekend I’m treating my husband to a very special weekend hiking our favorite trails in Camden, Rockport, and Bar Harbor in celebration of a milestone birthday! The exciting anticipation will buoy me through the upcoming week of orientation as we welcome back our hybrid cohorts, by class, this week.
New protocols, one way hallways, grab and go breakfasts and lunchs, assigned seating, new staff and teacher assignments are all in store for these 700 high school students. I sure hope they can see our smiles behind our masks and feel the love in our hearts as we welcome them back! Our high school community needs their energy!
Speaking of family... I recommended (it may have been more like begging but I am going to pretend it was a gentle recommendation) my father an ardent Fox News listener subscribe to your emails. We are extremely close, but like so many beginning in 2015 our relationship was strained by his loyalty to Trump and the GOP on sensitive issues. The things he was saying about issues, talking points from far right pundits, were all stemmed in fear and in opposition to the most unconditionally and accepting human I know, my father. I asked him to please read and listen to conservative journalist, David Brooks, and to read your daily letters. He did! The blinders came tumbling down. I am so proud of him that at 75 he has educated himself not only here with your letters, but often takes your topics and researches more about them. It’s truly inspiring to see his evolution. He has shared with more friends than I can count what he has discovered here. All this, but the most beautiful thing about all this (other than his upcoming vote for Biden:)) is that his politics now are a true reflection of the kind, Intelligent, open-minded and loving man he is. Thank you.
Great story. My father's tale (he's 86) is also one of "redemption." Starting with Eisenhower - Nixon, he always voted Republican. That ended with his vote for Romney - Ryan. He sat out in '16. He plans to pull the lever for Biden - Harris on November 3.
Great story. So happy for you and your father! I’m also jealous. I kind of don’t know where to begin with my siblings. I’m the oldest of 5 (now only 4) and the 3 youngest and their spouses and children are all Fox-following trumpsters. At 71yo, I am the lone Democrat in my native family, but have married twice to Dems and raised 3 Dem children who have married Dems. All of us Dems are respectfully following the social distancing Covid guidelines and wishing we could be “free”. We sadly watch our Republican relatives flaunt their president’s “China Hoax” by traveling, celebrating events, and sharing their escapades on social media. How will our Family Ever mend our differences? I’m very sad.
I thoroughly identify with you. I’m 10 years older than you, 1 of 3 living of my parents’ 6 children. My surviving 2 brothers are brainwashed FOX watchers; of their 5 children, 3 have joined my family (4 + 3 spouses and their 4 voting age children) in becoming Democrats. A great niece posted Trump’s ridiculing a handicapped man, not seeming to realize she has a sister with a handicapped son! My brothers hardly acknowledge me since I left the Republican Party, except to aim jabs at Obama!! It’s sad and I wonder if they stay loyal to trump, not so much for believing in him, but because they can’t admit they have changed their minds about him. As long as stations like FOX stay on the air with their hateful comments, I don’t think there will ever be a mending of differences.
Patti Jenkins and Dula Beyer Baker, I am not sure whether you were responding to me or to Kimberly Walker above. Either way, please know that the only way I can see through this crisis involves empathy, love and faith.
Great story, will share with others. Several Rs I know have become Ds, so it can happen. Most seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance, can't admit their faulty thinking. David Brooks is my favorite Republican, try not to miss him every Friday on PBS News Hour.
Dr. Richardson: Like your friend Peters‘ photograph of the rising moon, you are a beacon of light illuminating the dark and helping us to see the way through muddled times. I keep many quotes up on my bulletin board; pretty much my favorite since I was inspired to save it is from Dr. Martin Luther King’s last speech on April 3, 1968:
“But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars”.
Thank you for your uplifting note. Your good news, feels like my good news. I am grateful that you are surrounded by family and friends. I am even more grateful that you share your insight and your energy with your fan club:) I look forward to tonight's early bed time, thanks to you!
Thank you for sharing some of your personal life. And thank you for your letters which are so appreciated in these dark and confusing times. And the photos are a reminder that we need to take a break from the news and be grateful for the beauty all around us.
What an absolutely glorious Letter! I am so glad you are able to see your boys; what a relief it must be! Thank you for sharing your joy. Thanks, too, for the beautiful photo. All in all a nice way to begin the week!
Thank you for all you do. You are a giant help in keeping me and my family sane. In addition you are helping my almost 90 year old mother connected to the news without having to follow it obsessively!
Thank you, Heather, for telling us about your weirdly cool week - how great that you've had such a time, and been blessed with a huge delivery of gifts and messages. Take time, and know how much we all appreciate you.
I am very grateful for all that you do, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us through letters, chats, videos, empowering us to be the better for our Country. You are doing a great service to our Nation, and being an inspiration. Enjoy your loved ones, the harvest moon (thanks for sharing the lovely photo), and have a peaceful and restful night.
Heather, like many of your other readers, I feel the day had not truly begun until I've read your cogent synopsis of events and significances. I feel as if I've been graced by your insights for ages, but I know it cannot have been more than six months at most. In the last few months, I've come to appreciate the comments of your followers almost as much as yours and I'm very honored to be a member of such a kind and thoughtful crew. You have created this shared community, which is a lovely gift in itself. For all that you are doing, many, many thanks!
Beautiful words that truly capture what I feel as well. ❤️
Thank you for saying this so well. This is an amazing community gathered around HCR.
So true about this forum. The engagement, comments and reflections posted here so well translate the best in America's civic life.
I wouldn't be able to make it through this craziness if it weren't for your daily letters. Thank you for helping to parse these events and place them in historical context.
You said is well, Kate.
And for those of us in the room who live abroad, these Letters from an American have a special resonance. Cut off as many of us are from regular conversation with other Americans, these Letters feel very personal: they are an emotional and intellectual lifeline to our home.
And finally, they are letters – and how many of us take the time and thought required to compose letters anymore? How blessed we are that this wise and thoughtful person, a Professor of History no less, sits down each night to write us these letters often accompanied as they are with photographs of the Maine coast – a place that for this expat, evokes memories of picking blueberries in a field on a warm summer day, or paddling in the icy waters of that stunning rocky coast at dawn, as close to heaven as I can imagine.
Agree! We have sailed the coast of Maine since 1996 and enjoyed a vacation home in Rockport for seven years. It is heaven on earth! We have not been back via land since 2015. Next weekend I’m treating my husband to a very special weekend hiking our favorite trails in Camden, Rockport, and Bar Harbor in celebration of a milestone birthday! The exciting anticipation will buoy me through the upcoming week of orientation as we welcome back our hybrid cohorts, by class, this week.
New protocols, one way hallways, grab and go breakfasts and lunchs, assigned seating, new staff and teacher assignments are all in store for these 700 high school students. I sure hope they can see our smiles behind our masks and feel the love in our hearts as we welcome them back! Our high school community needs their energy!
Your hike sounds wonderful. I've never felt so energized as when hiking in the Maine woods ... there is magic among those trees.
Enjoy the hike and the kids at school - not to worry, they will see the smile in your eyes.
Edit function, please. You said "it" well, Kate.
Totally agree!
Amen!
Speaking of family... I recommended (it may have been more like begging but I am going to pretend it was a gentle recommendation) my father an ardent Fox News listener subscribe to your emails. We are extremely close, but like so many beginning in 2015 our relationship was strained by his loyalty to Trump and the GOP on sensitive issues. The things he was saying about issues, talking points from far right pundits, were all stemmed in fear and in opposition to the most unconditionally and accepting human I know, my father. I asked him to please read and listen to conservative journalist, David Brooks, and to read your daily letters. He did! The blinders came tumbling down. I am so proud of him that at 75 he has educated himself not only here with your letters, but often takes your topics and researches more about them. It’s truly inspiring to see his evolution. He has shared with more friends than I can count what he has discovered here. All this, but the most beautiful thing about all this (other than his upcoming vote for Biden:)) is that his politics now are a true reflection of the kind, Intelligent, open-minded and loving man he is. Thank you.
Great story. My father's tale (he's 86) is also one of "redemption." Starting with Eisenhower - Nixon, he always voted Republican. That ended with his vote for Romney - Ryan. He sat out in '16. He plans to pull the lever for Biden - Harris on November 3.
Great story. So happy for you and your father! I’m also jealous. I kind of don’t know where to begin with my siblings. I’m the oldest of 5 (now only 4) and the 3 youngest and their spouses and children are all Fox-following trumpsters. At 71yo, I am the lone Democrat in my native family, but have married twice to Dems and raised 3 Dem children who have married Dems. All of us Dems are respectfully following the social distancing Covid guidelines and wishing we could be “free”. We sadly watch our Republican relatives flaunt their president’s “China Hoax” by traveling, celebrating events, and sharing their escapades on social media. How will our Family Ever mend our differences? I’m very sad.
I thoroughly identify with you. I’m 10 years older than you, 1 of 3 living of my parents’ 6 children. My surviving 2 brothers are brainwashed FOX watchers; of their 5 children, 3 have joined my family (4 + 3 spouses and their 4 voting age children) in becoming Democrats. A great niece posted Trump’s ridiculing a handicapped man, not seeming to realize she has a sister with a handicapped son! My brothers hardly acknowledge me since I left the Republican Party, except to aim jabs at Obama!! It’s sad and I wonder if they stay loyal to trump, not so much for believing in him, but because they can’t admit they have changed their minds about him. As long as stations like FOX stay on the air with their hateful comments, I don’t think there will ever be a mending of differences.
Patti Jenkins and Dula Beyer Baker, I am not sure whether you were responding to me or to Kimberly Walker above. Either way, please know that the only way I can see through this crisis involves empathy, love and faith.
Maybe I can try to offer this to my dad too. It gives me hope. Thank you 🙏
I wish my father were alive...and it sounds like you have reestablished your “political” relationship with yours. I’m jealous. 😌
This is a wonderful story.
What a WONDERFUL story. Let your father spread his news to many others who need to see the light. Thanks for sharing.
Great story, will share with others. Several Rs I know have become Ds, so it can happen. Most seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance, can't admit their faulty thinking. David Brooks is my favorite Republican, try not to miss him every Friday on PBS News Hour.
Dr. Richardson: Like your friend Peters‘ photograph of the rising moon, you are a beacon of light illuminating the dark and helping us to see the way through muddled times. I keep many quotes up on my bulletin board; pretty much my favorite since I was inspired to save it is from Dr. Martin Luther King’s last speech on April 3, 1968:
“But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars”.
Stay safe all...
Thank you for reminding of the quote. Peace and Courage to all.
Each letter you write grounds me in what is really happening in our government and helps me not to get lost in the noise of the media. Thank you!
Thank you for your uplifting note. Your good news, feels like my good news. I am grateful that you are surrounded by family and friends. I am even more grateful that you share your insight and your energy with your fan club:) I look forward to tonight's early bed time, thanks to you!
Thank you for sharing some of your personal life. And thank you for your letters which are so appreciated in these dark and confusing times. And the photos are a reminder that we need to take a break from the news and be grateful for the beauty all around us.
"Very Tired Writer" ala Milne--love it. Thankful for you and the work you do--and the person you are.
Magnificent photo, magnificent you!
What an absolutely glorious Letter! I am so glad you are able to see your boys; what a relief it must be! Thank you for sharing your joy. Thanks, too, for the beautiful photo. All in all a nice way to begin the week!
Thank goodness for you. You treat us all as if we are old friends. Have a restful night. Love the photos BTW.
You are a national treasure. Rest up - remember that as long as this man is president every week is crazier than the previous one.
Thank you for all you do. You are a giant help in keeping me and my family sane. In addition you are helping my almost 90 year old mother connected to the news without having to follow it obsessively!
Stay safe and well.
We love you. Rest, stay strong. We desperately need your calming words.🧡
Thank you, Heather, for telling us about your weirdly cool week - how great that you've had such a time, and been blessed with a huge delivery of gifts and messages. Take time, and know how much we all appreciate you.
I am very grateful for all that you do, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us through letters, chats, videos, empowering us to be the better for our Country. You are doing a great service to our Nation, and being an inspiration. Enjoy your loved ones, the harvest moon (thanks for sharing the lovely photo), and have a peaceful and restful night.