Hello Everyone, yes, we’re still in England, but not for much longer! On our way home soon. 🏡 But ever since our election, I’ve had a hard time sleeping, I can’t turn off my brain, I wake up thinking about it, and go to sleep worrying about it. Finally I turn to the cure, I’m going to work it over in my mind by writing about it. It’s not that I have any secrets from you. I usually see my blog as a happy place, even as an escape from the negativity these days, where kindred spirits gather to talk about the little things that make life wonderful, things we all have in common. And, until recently, I always thought
And I have done it, risen above reality, quite easily throughout most of my life. When bad things happen, I go to the garden and pick a few flowers, make a cup of tea, get under my nap blanket with an old movie, and I feel better. I put away the disappointment I feel for the direction of the world and go knit my 89th scarf instead. I invite friends to dinner, light candles, pour wine, play beautiful MUSICA that fits my mood and forget. Even during 9-11, the worst, most intrusive example of man’s inhumanity to man, followed 
by all the other ones since, I could turn on Shirley Temple or Fred Astaire and slowly but surely, be healed. Maybe this made me a shallow person, but I didn’t see it that way. I saw it as a “take charge” of my life gesture, and it has always worked (except once, Sandy Hook 😥). But what has just happened to our country, I fear, is a 9-11 in very slow motion…no Shirley Temple movie is going to help. Where this election will take us, as a people, is still to be seen. And I have to talk about it. Please try to read this, because it comes from my heart. It’s not so much about the election, but more about us, and this angry world we live in.
See this photo, this room full of anything-but-angry Girlfriends? This and the photos below are the wonderful faces of some of the people that Joe and I had the privilege of meeting while crossing the country in the Fine Romance 
Van this last spring. I have no idea what political party they affiliate with, and I honestly don’t care. Because that’s only one small part of who a person is, and these people were so giving, kind, and filled with light . . . and we have so much in common! I would much rather concentrate on that . . . I could write a book about our commonalities! Oh yes, I forgot, I have! I’ve always known it from the wonderful letters I’ve received over the years, my whole life is based 
on it. We love our families and our best friends, we love nurturing them. We love to decorate our houses, make curtains and pillows, pick wildflowers for vases, because we all agree, home is where the heart is. We fold clothes, warm from the dryer, on the kitchen table (sometimes we wrap our kids or husbands up in them), we call each other to catch up, bake cookies and birthday cakes, feed our beloved pets, make Thanksgiving dinner, welcome family home with open arms, work hard, get the kids to school, put their drawings on the fridge, give to charity, mourn our lost loves, count our many blessings and are so grateful we have this amazing opportunity and gift to be able to do these little things that make life so very sweet.💞 We know how quickly everything can change and we are grateful for a normal day.
These days though, another thing we have in common, we worry. Mostly for our children and grandchildren in this changing world ~ we want them to hold on to the look in this little girl’s eyes for as long as possible, to grow up free as the wind, 
so tenderly careful never to touch butterfly wings, never experiencing war, sure that all things in our world are right and good. We want them to read books, embrace honesty, integrity, and ethics, have the very best education possible so the stars are the limit, honor family traditions, lay under trees, watch the leaves fall, dream, and 
feel perfectly free to reach for the moon and make this world a better place because I’ve never met a child who didn’t wish to do that. Every one of us wants our families to receive the best health care, and none of us want to see our parents grow old, destitute and alone. I don’t care which political party we’re from. Or even which country. Right? Isn’t that who we are as human beings, all of us? It’s what I believe.
Some of us are Catholic, some of us are Methodist, Jewish, or Muslim, and some of us have no religion at all, but that’s okay, because we respect freedom of religion as our forefathers, those we honor on Veterans Day, have fought so hard to preserve. We aren’t afraid of people that are different from us. We know their children will be bullied in school if we adults do not stand up for the rights of their parents. No child should ever be bullied because of some crazy adult thing. And common sense tells us, you can’t hold a person down without staying down there with him. And it’s our intention to rise and rise together. Right? One world, one people? Our grandmothers taught us that we’re going to disagree with people, but to be respectful, don’t throw our trash in other people’s yards, and remember that religion and politics are taboo subjects in mixed company and good manners means that sometimes we just keep our mouths shut.
💛
If A is success in life, then A equals X plus Y plus Z. Work is X; Y is play; and Z is keeping your mouth shut. 💛Albert Einstein
We might be Republicans or Democrats, but until the last few years, we’ve always believed we were on the same American team, trying to make a better country. We agree that we’d like to use our tax money to have safe bridges, clean water, good schools. Despite what we are told by a divisive media, we do want the same things, Yes we do, and are mostly just exactly alike. And that is true for peace-loving, garden-planting, women and men of all backgrounds, in all countries. Imagine waking up each morning not knowing if your child will make it home from school 
alive. Not knowing if men with machine guns will pop in the door of your little house with the one flower in the vase. Really imagine it, because it’s like that for some women in the world, women just exactly like the ones in these photos, people like us, who never stop dreaming of a better world. We are so lucky to live the way we do. To knit Christmas presents, make soup, take the kids to a movie. To go to tea parties wearing a new hat. All the joyful little things that make life so wonderful.
But our peace is under threat. We are being torn apart from within. I can tell you for 100% sure, no one in any of these photos hates America, whether she’s from Iowa, California, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, New York, or Wisconsin or all of the lovely places in-between. You know it, and I know it. Believing they do hurts our country. The people who tell us one part of the country is BETTER or WORSE than another, is a traitor to his country. His purpose is to rip us apart when he does that. It’s cruel and wrong, it has not a single American value in it, and if I was queen I would put these people in rehab (on a desert island). They do it for money. Look closely at those faces, we all love our country. We are good people, all of us. Anyone who tells you different is lying. That’s the first thing I wanted to clear up.
“Reporting is expensive, and making stuff up costs nothing.” 😜 BBC
But something has clearly changed when we elect a President of the United States who 
admits grabbing women by their private parts. I don’t care about one political thing, but that statement was a knife in my heart. That was the moment I said to myself, “Done.” Because it tells our young men that we condone this, it tells our daughters they are nothing. There is not one honorable thing in it, it is against everything I want the world to be. I would be very surprised if we didn’t all agree on this too no matter who we voted for. When I think of women in other countries who are buried in the dirt up to their necks and stoned to death for not following the local rules, and remember how hard we’ve fought for respect in this country, my heart bleeds and I cry very sad tears.
So what changed and when? Our country didn’t always suffer from so much divisiveness. Our media didn’t always take us to the lowest common denominator. I know, because I’ve been around a long time. When I was in high school, whether you were a Republican or a Democrat did not matter a bit. Most of us didn’t even know what we were. When did half of us become “the other” and the other half become “reviled?” How did this knife get driven into the heart of our country, dividing us like we are today? How did we all get so hurt, because both sides are very hurt by this. And, with all this glorifying of negativity, this shamelessness, how do we raise our children? How do we teach them? How do we take care of the sick and dying? How do we live and work together in peace?
How’d it happen? I think I know because I watched it unfold. Age is very good for this type of thing. It began for real in 1988. . . when radio and TV talk shows (on stations owned by huge political corporations) starting using fear, 
telling people that half of us were trying to undermine America by doing things like getting rid of Christmas (which is the MOST ridiculous thing I ever heard, no one ever wanted to do that, breaks my heart to think anyone would believe it), that our leaders, our media, were “not to be trusted” — that only THEY could be trusted. And guess what, fear worked! And radio talk proliferated, and moved to television. This kind of media, with their 24/7 brainwashing, was allowed because of a change in the law called the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Turns out the people doing the talking were cheating on their wives, having affairs in bathroom stalls in airports, were addicted to 
drugs, yet the very things they would blame on “others.” They told us Obama wasn’t born in this country. They said he is a muslim (as a fear tactic). These days they are starting to call this Fake News. They’ve lied to us a thousand times, and yet, for some reason (due to a myriad of personal experiences) many of us believe them, and, slowly, over the years, we have allowed them to tear us in two. Because there wasn’t anything we could say. We couldn’t stop them, they gained strength and filled the airwaves with this stuff. Now it’s all over social media. Families are being torn apart, friendships are ending, violence is occurring. It’s not getting better, and no one knows what to think. Or, we think we do.
I used to imagine it didn’t matter who became president, because if I turned off the news, I couldn’t see how it made an actual difference to my life. Sun still came up, trash was picked up in same big trucks, street lights still worked. Then two things occurred. First, 
good paying jobs began going to other countries where people could work for a lot less. Our little towns were robbed of our small businesses, some look like ghost towns now, because they could not compete with large corporations such as Walmart who bought everything cheaply-made from foreign countries. (And, to be fair, we forgot to notice that we supported them by flocking to their stores.) In my art licensing business, in the years just after 2000, so many manufacturers closed, I was no longer able to license my products, the jammies, or the 
dishes, the way I used to…there was no one to make them anymore. All the money that used to go into the hands of small bookstores, publishers, editors, printers, authors, PR people, and agents, and most importantly, their families (who spent that money supporting other small businesses), now goes into the hands of just one person, Jeff Bezos, who owns Amazon. Yes, a billionaire is born every minute, to the exclusion of the rest of us. Everyone was affected by this mass abandonment by our government and big business who had gotten their successes on our backs. Our middle class was having the rug pulled out from under it. It was going away. ALL of us felt it! Then they had the nerve (and greed) to invent Black Friday and open stores on Thanksgiving (no, young ones, Black Friday is NOT an “American Tradition” despite that they tell us it is). There was a time when corporations felt a duty toward the country and the people that supported them. But no more. We’re losing our American way of life. We’re all in the same boat, together, the people on the coasts, the mid-west, the south, the coal miners, the manufacturing towns. And we put up with it. But we are mad. And media and the powers that be used our anger to divide us even further. It’s not US, it’s THEM.
Then in 2008, the banks walked away with all our money, they foreclosed on us and our neighbors who had done nothing more but applied for and were granted a loan from a bank, and walked away with retirements and pensions. Zip, too bad, gone. They were bailed out with OUR TAX MONEY (but not any for the foreclosed-upon), and the powers that be did absolutely NOTHING about it, news media did nothing, talk news ignored it. I have never 
been so upset with government in my life. Someone should have gone to jail. Someone should still go to jail. None of my friends got through it unscathed. It’s become much harder for everyone to make ends meet. It’s not just you. It’s not just your imagination. We are all worried sick about what will happen to us when we get too old to work, or if we get really sick. Most of us, including me, now work for nothing most of the time, and 
steal money from the retirement funds we’ve managed to put by, to make ends meet, still trying our best, adapting, the only way we know how. New graduates from colleges and universities are hurting, young people saddled with massive debt that the government gets interest on (btw, university in France and other countries is free, we could most definitely have that too, if it wasn’t for the large faction of our legislators that are trying to convince us now that we don’t need a Department of Education in this country) and these kid’s lives have a hopelessness to them that we never felt. These are our children, and words such as “Liberal” or “Conservative,” used as poison darts have NOTHING to do with it. Some things should not be politicized. They have undermined our beautiful American middle class. There is plenty of money in this country, it’s OUR money, and our government officials, corporations and media are using it to enrich themselves, through changes in laws, tax codes, and sadly, war. It’s our money, it should be used to make America better.
I hope I haven’t lost any of you. I want more than anything to figure a way to bring us together. I speak right out of a broken heart. There is common ground in every single subject and we are so sensible, and so like minded, kindred spirits can always, always find a way. 💙 But not unless we can see the truth that we are being used, divided, and conquered. 
Who’s in charge, who are the powers that be, who are the ruling class in this country? It’s not just the President, or congress, it’s the guys behind the scene, it’s the CEO of Walmart 
and every large corporation in America, the heads of CNN, CBS, FOX, oil companies and insurance companies, drug companies, chemical companies, bankers, and all their lobbyists that work behind the scenes making sure the laws are written to make them richer and happier. It’s the media and talk radio that have realized that they become richer and more powerful by separating us. And they are willing to say 
anything to do it. They tell us they are the “true news,” the only believable ones, and they use fear, the cruelest of all, that Isis (or whatever the fear is because they make up tons of them) is coming into YOUR town to GET YOU, and that they are the only ones that can save us. They tell us that people (the other, who just might be your family member or your next door neighbor) who disagree with them are Godless, or hicks, or racist, violent, or anything they want and tell stories to back it up. Problem is, it’s legal to say 
anything in this country. You can go in, make a fake newspaper, put a fake article in it, put it on your website, all fake and newspapery-like and say it’s true. And it’s really hard to tell the difference between fake and real these days. And some websites are so inflammatory, using despicable language, frightening everyone into fearful action, when what is needed is slow, thoughtful contemplation based on truth and fact. We don’t trust anything anymore. Friends and families are being torn apart by these lies, and our country is being torn asunder from within. Our beautiful country. I know this is strong, but I don’t care, I call this treason.
Imagine a town meeting: I’m sure many of you have attended them, so you recognize the process: the town identifies a need, a water system or stop sign at the corner of Park and Main, something. So they hash it over in the most boring way possible, what’s the best way to get what they need, how do they find the money for it, etc…and then, the town votes, and they SOLVE the problem between them, and the water system gets updated, the stop sign gets put in, and the town is better.👏
Your national government should work exactly the same. But if half the people refuse to deal with the other half, nothing gets done, your air turns dirty, your water becomes poisoned, your health care is taken away, your education system gets dismantled, your bridges fall down, regulation goes away so big business doesn’t have to tell you what additives they put in your food or how much lead is in your water. And who benefits from all that? Because definitely someone does, and it isn’t us.
We have to work together. Because there is a way to bring America back together, but not with all this name calling and fake news. And saying it’s okay because the other guy did it first, doesn’t help. The buck must stop with each of us. Turn off the radio. 
Just say no. Don’t believe everything you hear. If there is an issue, follow it through to see who is benefiting from the divisions it causes. A very good place for that is C-Span, it’s a little boring because it sticks to facts, but it lets you see all sides of issues and decide for yourself. It doesn’t lie. Your presence in your government doesn’t end with your vote for president. Watch your congress. Watch them like hawks. Don’t let anyone TELL you what they do, see it for yourself. Many of them (not all!!!) are selling us out. Doing NOTHING for the people, giving all our tax dollars to the lobbyists for the large corps. We are alike, we are Americans, we sink or swim together, and what we provide for our fellow citizens through laws we all work to make together, in jobs, healthcare, affordable housing, clean water, the best education, internet and hospitals for small towns not only brings up our country, it brings up our children, and it brings up the world.
We are being kept apart by an evil force that we need to join together to fight. Please, 
believe in each other, please don’t believe in these voices using us for, when it comes right down to it, money. They take our tax money and give it to each other, while we are fighting about stupid things, they manage not to spend it on the things we want, those schools, those roads, a VA that works for our lost and suffering veterans . . . they ignore us completely, pay lip service, and all the money, OUR money, goes to wars that we don’t want or ask for, to make up for the taxes that corporations don’t pay. And at this point in time the 
ruling class, media, government and corporations are in cahoots against we the people.
Not to throw out the baby with the bath water, because there are several wonderful politicians/people who are in it for all the right reasons. Of course these good ones are first to be demonized by the media. A politician that they can’t control is a bad one as far as they are concerned and has to go. If one of them chooses to vote for gun control, the NRA does everything in its considerable power to unseat that person no matter what his or her other achievements 
have been. The NRA, therefore, runs our country, not us. (And don’t go crazy here, nobody and I mean nobody, wants to take away everyone’s guns, that’s another lie, but who needs machine guns in the hands of crazy people or children? Lovely to be in England where people don’t have guns, and go to the movies, and be perfectly sure that no one will begin to mow everyone down.) And yes, politicians with that kind of bravery, who put their jobs on the line for doing the right thing, are few and far between. We should find the good ones, check backgrounds, find out what they’ve stood for, and bring them forward. It’s not what they SAY, it’s what they DO. But if our elected officials divide us, refuse to work on behalf of the country we love, we should vote them out of office.
💞
Americans are WONDERFUL friendly, hard working, generous, creative people. Don’t believe ANYONE who tells you differently. Our country does not have to be made great again, it is already the greatest country on earth. This bit about some of our United States being filled with “hicks” and some filled with “elites” makes me sick, they are doing this to separate us and we are letting them.
We have to outsmart them. If the media outlet you’re listening to tells you your neighbor thinks you are stupid, laugh in their face and say, “You must think I’m stupid if you think I believe that malarky.” 
If they tell you, “They don’t think like you,” “or those people are baby killers,” or “Christianity is under attack,” be aware that these are total and complete lies, they make it all up because our laws say they can and no one can stop them. If they blame Mexicans, Jews, African Americans, Iranians, Muslims, whoever, it’s because they want to separate us. Remember, Timothy McVeigh who blew up the Murrah building in Oklahoma City was a white Christian American. Terrorists come in all colors and from all countries. You and your neighbor are in the exact same boat, and the powers that be want to OWN the boat and will SINK it if they have to. Government has limits. It’s not supposed to be in charge of religion (they honestly don’t care about it, they use it to divide), it’s supposed to be in charge of roads.
Trump was appealing because he sounds like change, and at least he spoke to our total national frustration with the ruling class that shipped our jobs off-shore (even though he manufactures all his products in China), and let the banks walk away with our national treasure, foreclosing on people (hardworking citizens of this country) to whom they had approved loans because they thought they could get away with it (then blaming it on them), and the truth is WE ALL FEEL THAT WAY, no matter WHO we voted for. We all feel the need for change. But, unfortunately, electing this divisive man, a billionaire who told us that if he lost, the election would have been rigged, thereby inviting violence between the American People, for whom he was purporting to work, was not the answer. It is the saddest day America has ever seen. It’s the loss of presidential nobility, honor, honesty, integrity, truth, justice and the American way I lament. 😥 I know some of you disagree with me, and you have every right to do that, and write about it on your own blogs. But you can’t disagree with some of the things he has said and done. I see the election of Trump as the culmination of massive amounts of misinformation coupled with total frustration at the system. Everyone has a right to vote they way they see fit. Remember, I’m still here in England. I JUST basically woke up to this, and I’m torn apart. What has happened to us? There has to be more to this than meets the eye, this wall building that Mexico’s going to pay for, this “Lock Her Up” rhetoric, I don’t believe he will do these things. It will unfold. If Trump puts people in his cabinet that are on the side of We the people, I will be thrilled and happy. But if it ends up as all deal-maker conmen billionaires, heads of corporations that have been running this country for years anyway, I will be heartbroken even further than I am now. 
Yes, we desperately needed change and Hillary should have said, “I will jail the people that stole our national treasure, I will stop us from subsidizing corporations for taking our jobs overseas (that money will go to rebuild our infrastructure and fix health care), and I will raise taxes on corporations. I will work for the people.” Obama, instead of trying to “make nice” when he got into office, should 
have had opened a huge investigation into the banks. Banks should have been broken up. Drug makers should go to jail for overcharging us. Insurance companies should be prosecuted for not being there when we need them. But he wanted to soften the rhetoric between the parties, so instead he went to work saving the auto industry … he tried to be a healer, but the congress had vowed not to work with him, and in the end, he missed the boat. Hillary is also more of a hawk than I would personally like. She voted for that ruinous war we were lied into. But at least I know her as an honorable person. Despite the fake stories, she is not a murderer, she has worked hard all her life to make a better world. At least she tried to talk about roads and schools and children’s health. And, sadly, the powers that be (which even includes foreign governments like Putin) would rather see a man in office, no matter how inappropriate he might be, than any woman. Tons of manipulation went into that. (And now Melania Trump is in the crosshairs. She’s not evil either, and neither is Michelle Obama.)
But our country was so upset, we needed change so badly, we’ve been lied to and manipulated so much in this post-truth world, we forgot our core values as defender 
against tyranny, champion of the little guy, equality and justice for all. If you see an article beginning with, “Sources have told us . . . that so and so is sick, dying, meeting with the KKK, in a rage, falling apart . . . whatever . . . be suspicious. What sources? Never forget, they can say anything. The unvarnished truth is the only way we can make a better world. We need to know. There was a huge discussion on BBC here yesterday about false information coming from Facebook. We can’t let the forces of evil take over the world. We need new foot soldiers to join in the fight against the misinformation they are using to control us. If you think it’s all one side or the other, you are wrong.
We grew up in our lovely middle class world believing in the American Dream, and this includes Hillary Clinton, who is my age and remembers it the way it was, is a good mom and a hard worker, and since I’ve been around long enough to watch it unfold, I have to tell you, she is the most investigated person in the history of this country. It’s been almost constant since I first heard her name. Looking back, ever since Rush Limbaugh began calling her a femi-nazi in the early 90s (because she wanted to help fix health care and the powers that be didn’t want that, because it would change the status quo, i.e. their pocketbooks, follow the money Insurance and drug companies), she has been demonized. I don’t know how she’s stood it. She’s a brave person, and in my opinion, she stood it for us. Despite our congress spending millions of dollars of OUR tax money on the best and the brightest lawyers hired to prove something against her (should have spent it on reopening the mental health facilities in this country that were closed in 1982), she has never been charged … not with the murder they said she committed, nor any of the “crimes” they say she did. Because accusing someone of something is perfectly legal ~ totally reprehensible, without integrity or honor, but legal, and lucrative. And if you put them through hell and find out they did nothing, too bad for them. If she was guilty of something, she would be in jail. Obviously the system, despite Trump’s lie, is not “fixed” — or, for example, Donald Trump would not be president. He was willing to say that, to shout LOCK HER UP, to incite violence (because he never had any intention of locking her up, he knew she’d never been charged with anything), even to bring this country to civil war, in order to win. Donald Trump, supposed outsider, was not the answer. He is the ruling class (and so is Hillary, btw). Before he 
ran for president, he was a pro-choice, bonafide card-carrying Democrat who invited Hillary to his wedding in order to court her for whatever he wanted voted for, now he says he’s a Republican and he’s vowed to lower corporation taxes from 35% to 15%. But we have no idea, none of us really know what he will do; he will say anything because what he really is is an opportunist. He’s the art of the deal. He would have done anything to win, and he did. Now we are going to have a government run by his children. Please God. Common sense tells us this is not good. Yes, we needed a shake up. But the damage that can be done in four years can actually never be undone. We can never take back the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the costs associated that we paid for, we can never bring all those soldiers back to life, we can never take back what the banks were allowed to do to us. And if it’s bad for us, you can only imagine how hard it is on people of color.
One thing I know for sure, the enemy is not your neighbor. Look at the faces in these photos and ask yourself, who benefits from reduction of corporate taxes, reduction of 
death taxes, and who profits from war? Because people do, and those people aren’t us. Who benefits when there is no regulation or weak regulations on car safety or safety of our food or water so they can make it cheaper, faster, using slave labor? Who profits when they advertise disgusting drugs on TV that none of us ever heard of? Who benefits if the legislative process is stymied? Do you think that oil companies want us to believe in global warming? Heck, no. Standard Oil started calling it a hoax 40 years ago. Kids gun down their classmates with AK47’s and we’re scared when we’re told that “libs” want to take away our first amendment rights, who benefits from that 
lie? Us, our kids, or gun manufacturers? Who benefits when we fight each other over gun control or Obama Care? Everything is fixed to benefit them, not us, and in this, Trump was right: the system IS rigged against us, but not the way he says it is. When we fight, they get away with it. It’s our NOT ALLOWING them to divide us that can save us. Can we do it? I don’t know. We’re in 
so deep. The yelling on Twitter breaks my heart, moms screaming at other moms. And the powers that be are loving every moment of it. I mean, how better to sell a newspaper than the screaming headline VIOLENCE ENSUES OVER ELECTION. And some media outlets say the violence is coming from the right, and some say it’s coming from the left, and the only thing we know for sure, when they do this, they win and we lose. We’re being used. They would rather we don’t vote at all actually, they make it harder and harder for us to do so, and when media made both candidates seem so unpalatable, when they decided issues didn’t matter, many people stayed home and didn’t vote at all!!!! Perfect. Just the way they like it.
See this photo? This is a room full of Girlfriends who have EVERYTHING in common. We can be mad, but not at each other, let’s be 
mad at them! Some of you may like what I’ve written here, some of you may see it as political, some of you may wonder why I didn’t write it before the election. Now I wish I had. If my dad was still alive he would have made me, but, sadly, I no longer have his sage advice. I’m on my own. Although I’ve paid close attention to politics over the years, I’ve never been a political person, I’ve believed that goodness would always just automatically win. I have a vision of a strong, inclusive America. Some of you might agree with me that our divisions are not real, but are caused by influences from within, from the powers that be who have everything to gain by keeping us separate and off message, if you do, pass this blog around, because we need all the help we can get. Some of you might decide I’m the enemy and never come to my blog again. So be it. Let the chips fall where they may. Many tears have been shed over the choice of best words here, maybe I didn’t do it perfectly, but please, never doubt one thing, my sincerity for the outcome: Us. Together. Forever. One country, one world.🌎
He drew a circle that kept me out, heretic rebel a thing to flout, but love and I had the wit to win, we drew a circle that took him in. 💖
I’ve said my piece. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
We’re on our way home! We leave England on Saturday, via the Queen Mary 2, back to America across the deep blue sea. It’s been wonderful beyond words and I wrote it all down in my diary.✍🏼 And don’t worry, my blog will come back in its same old homemaking celebratory way because that’s my heart and it’s almost Christmas🎄, and despite everything, I was born with the happy gene and I know I’ll come out of this. I could probably go on all day, but I believe I have entertained you long enough.💞
Thank you, Susan. I love your insight, and your words have comforted me in a difficult time (as usual). I was one of the ladies you met this summer, and you are so right. We can be neighbors despite the hatefulness we read about. Thank you.
Susan
I agree with so much of what you have to say about how we all need to pull together and be nice to each other. I think the reason some people are feeling defensive about your writing what you did is because you couldn’t help bringing politics into it by mentioning the 2 who were running and your belief of Hillary’s innocence. I believe if you had left that part out, you would not have had any negative feedback. I have been totally upset since Trump won the election and I voted for him. It is all the negativity that is on social media and in the streets that makes me sick. I quit reading Facebook and only listen to my local news. I hate that people are acting like spoiled children and even more than that. Peace be with our beautiful country and in our homes.
Hey Susan. You go girl! I cannot wait to join woman all over the world in marching peacefully FOR something positive in my city (Portland, OR) the day after inauguration day: January 21, 2017. We will feel empowered and supported and unified. My heart was broken on election night but after reading your blog and others from people I respect like you I am feeling at least not so alone. We must be vigilent in protecting the rights of all human beings. Appointing a self proclaimed white nationalist (Mr. Brannon) who has close ties to white supremacist groups as one of his closest advisors is a huge red flag. We need to be very concerned and then act thoughtfully and peacefully to counteract his frightening behaviors.
Dearest Susan
I have been a loyal fan of your for over 15 years, partly for your lovely books and partly for your thoughtful words. However,I get that you are upset over the election results, but why would you contribute to this divide? You are honest about your political leanings, but what happened to teaching our children about the democratic process? Trump won the election and all the cries of horror and implying that those who voted for him are somehow bereft of any sense is a disservice to your readers. I am guessing that 99 percent of America are not going to socialize with, nor go to lunch with a President Trump,therefore,how about paying attention to the policies he spoke about? Since no one can absolutely say that Hillary would have made good on all her policies, including taxes, etc.,why not encourage everyone’s support to give the winner of the election a chance before we destroy him? I don’t like any of his sexist comments, but Hillary is no fan of women either, do not be fooled. Anyway,the country needs to stop whining and learn the fifth step in grieving: Acceptance, the only way we can move forward.Thank you for your fairness in posting this.
Dear, dear Susan. I’ve been reading your last 3 books over again, in order of when the events portrayed occurred in your life, and am now about 1/3 through A Fine Romance, so I’ve been thinking about you often lately. This morning, as I put my bookmark in after I finished my tea, I had a flash of thought about what your reaction to the current national situation is. And this evening I opened my blog reader and there you were. I must tell you that this post is amazing. You have distilled and so eloquently put into words what has been swirling in my head for the last week. Longer, actually. Your post says it better than anything I’ve read since the election. For that, I thank you, and I will certainly share it! You know, I was talking to my 32yr old daughter yesterday, about all “this stuff,” and I said what I wanted was to live in the sweet happiness that your books convey, the true joy in life and the little things that are so important, and not get mired in the ugliness and fear and panic that is being pushed at us. I’ve decided to limit reading “news,” continue to not watch it on television, and am only going on facebook once or twice a week, just to keep up with friends and family. I’m so much happier when I do this. I’ll keep enjoying flowers and birds and kitties and sunsets and stars and the moon and clouds and the ocean, good books, beautiful and fun music, old movies. I’ll continue to knit for charity along with my own projects, support organizations that care about people and the earth, shop locally and at small businesses and buy from local artists and crafts people. I buy as many local and organic products as I can. I smile at strangers and say hello, pet their dogs, and wave at their kids, make silly faces at their babies. I try to treat people as I would love to be treated. I firmly believe in the goodness of people, and I won’t allow fear or ugliness take that away from me or my family and friends. Thank you so much, Susan, for the bright spot you are in my, and SO many people’s, lives! You are loved and appreciated! PS: I can’t wait to hear all about your Scotland adventures! I love it there so much! ((((Hugs!))))
Dear Susan, I agree with everything you said, but to put in fairy tale terms,
The troll has taken over the kingdom, and this elf is trembling🙁
Goodbye, Susan Branch.
Susan,
I share every feeling that you have so eloquently expressed in this post, this election has been so heartbreaking on so many different levels. In past elections, although I may have leaned one way or the other, I always felt I could accept the outcome. Like most of us, I’ve never witnessed anything like this in my lifetime and I am afraid for our future. But I keep telling myself he is but one man and can only do so much. I still have faith that America is the greatest country on earth. We are being tested but I pray we will all rise above the hate. Susan, keep doing what you do, you are always an inspiration! Have a safe voyage home!
If I could make one request of our pres. elect, I’d ask of him to please “be your best self” as you lead this country, and expect the same of the rest of us starting now. And Susan, I am grateful to you for being your own best self at this most heartbreaking moment in American history and for embracing the considerable risk in taking a stand on your blog. The world’s eyes are on us, this is bigger than just America. Now that we are where we are, it comes down to each of speaking out against the objectification of women, bullying and bigotry in any way that we are able. Peace is messy but I’m not scared and neither are you! xo
Dear Susan….Thank you! You truly are a kindred spirit with love for all and a beautiful desire to share beauty and positivity. This blog spoke to me in such a deep way. Thank you for being brave! Thank you for saying what might be difficult to for some to hear. It makes me sad to see the angry responses. Stay the beautiful soul that you are Susan. Please continue to share your beautiful words, wisdom, art, and positivity. Thank you Susan Branch for being you!!! 💖
I do hope there was nothing taken offensively in this message. Only kind thoughts intended. Thank you. ☺
I’m sure it was perfect Barbara, I think I haven’t gotten to it yet. On WordPress, the newest comments are always on the top, piling over the other 700 that came in earlier . . . that’s why I’m answering this one, but haven’t seen the other one yet. Hope that makes sense!😜
Ok, thank you. I just wanted to send a warm than you to you. I also wanted you to know how much happiness you and you blog bring to me and your other fans. Thank you…..❣
You are so dear to say it Barbara… xoxo
Yes, this blog has always been a positive, uplifting blog that we all soak up in awe of Susan/Susan’s life that we lovingly admire. She spends so much time of her life making us feel good on bad days.
Politics, especially this past 18 months, has taken an emotional toll on most of us. I, too, have had sleepless nights, mornings greeted by anxiety, days full of disgust and then hope. I am 71 and want for my grandchildren the opportunities that I took for granted. It is hard to watch jobs disappear and college graduates living at home because they can’t afford housing or find a job with decent wages. It is truly worrisome. This country should not be a place where we don’t go to the doctor/dentist because we cannot afford health insurance.
I was a diligent “student” and listened/watched ALL networks cover their views of the primary/general election campaigns. More than once I said to my husband that I am ready to cancel cable! The bias and rhetoric on all stations was a disservice to all of us. I want sound, investigative reporting! I miss Brokaw and other JOURNALISTS in the true definition of the word. Networks have taken on a tabloid mentality and thrown the honor of good reporting out the window for profits. I don’t know how some of these network employees get dressed and show up to work to spew the samo-samo EVERY single hour…don’t know how they do it.
Several times I honestly “spaced” and envisioned the various network pundits sitting on couches in their “network living rooms” with good friends/colleagues spewing their personal political struggles and opinions. Agreeing to disagree…then getting heated in their exchanges. I don’t want a bunch of journalists “sitting in their NETWORK living room” bringing in biased “experts” to enlighten me. I want journalism with integrity. I definitely was over-dosing trying to listen and make sense of it all…to a point where I felt that it was unhealthy for me. Tracking the daily news became a news addiction! The pundits are STILL on their “couch” entertaining each other with their speculation of what is what. I am now having some success in keeping the TV news off!
My memory has the pundit/expert syndrome beginning with the OJ Simpson trial…after that trial “experts” began to creep into the news hours and today we have panels and more panels and MORE! I agree that this type of news coverage is the fallout of 24/7 news…and now the competition to beat the Twitter/Facebook/Talk Radio/Blog headlines…diminishing the facts and true enlightenment.
My feeling re: this blog post is simply this: We love Susan for all of the positive joy that she doses out to us. Now we have a REAL girlfriend who is not only creative, spreading joy, but being REAL with deep thoughts, sadness, convictions and worries. I am a registered Republican because I never took the time to change the status to Independent. I do not vote along party lines, but for the person that I feel can have the best shot at making a difference. I have been disappointed in my choice more than once. Most of my friends are Democrats through and through. We love each other and know where we are in the different touchy-feely areas of conversations. We respect the differences and remain friends. We support each other’s lives and what happens in all of our hearts and opinionated minds.
Susan has shared with us that she has been affected deeply by this election. Both sides have been affected deeply. This election cycle was a tsunami of emotions all around. I support Susan in choosing to come to her “safe place”…the land of her Girlfriends…and “cry her frustrations”…she is struggling, too, and opened up to friends. We can choose to agree or disagree, but for me…she is more real now! She is not perfect anymore because her mind has overshadowed her huge heart and taken over her peace and center. We have all been there…logic no longer able to hold down emotional “stuff”. Susan has become REAL…with control overtaken by emotions and deep, struggling thought. She has become one of us, the girlfriends…messed up and needing a hug!! Now it is my time to pay back Susan’s supportive nature and support her with a necessary hug and a listening ear.
I know that Susan’s blog will return to happy. Susan’s is the ONLY blog and Twitter feed that I read and will continue to do so.
Susan, you should’ve bought a cottage in England and walked your adopted puppy in bliss over fields and dales of peace! I could’ve paid to ship Jack over to you. Safe passage on your friend, Queen Mary and welcome back to MV – a love of your life.
God bless America and us.
Peace – out! 💗💗💗
One small thing you could do….stop using the term “Girlfriends”, these are Women.
Oh please.
Susan you have been gone so long I’ve not been checking your blog. What made me check tonight? I’m so glad I did. You have returned to your forum like a beacon, like the super moon I know you are watching too. I have read a lot of the comments, but like others I could not do it all in one session. But I will get to all of it as think all of us must….Susan many have called you brave to have written this and I agree, you are. But i am dismayed that “bravery” is needed for a woman to give a well thought out, fact based and passionate opinion. I’m really stunned at the fairweather fans vitriol.
So HEY GIRLFRIENDS! STOP THE HATE! If you like Susan’s work, like her work. Do not trash the art and beauty because her opinion differs from yours. Listen, respect and treasure. Elevate all of us by learning to appreciate and love despite our differences
Dear Susan,
My heart is broken that you feel the way you do. I have always believed everything happens for a reason. The Lord wanted Trump to win and he did. I have followed your blog, met you at your book signing and always felt we were kindred spirits, but I don’t agree with you. You have the right to feel the way you do, however it saddens me you used your wonderful blog to express your political views. Blessings, Dawn
Did the Lord want us to go to two wars? Because that’s what it sounds like you are saying. Did the Lord want our jobs to be sent overseas? You don’t have to agree with me Dawn, and I agree you have the right to believe the way you do, and that we can STILL be kindred spirits.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m 64 and this was by far the most momentous elevction of my lifetime – bigger even than Vietnam. I have never been so emotionally spent, so completely heartbroken, so totally baffled, and so totally scared of the way our country is going. Peace is love – love is peace. We need to hold tight to each other. I’m sharing your post. Safe travels home!
Susan, I agree with you wholeheartedly ! I am still walking around feeling like I have been kicked in the stomach. I have spoken with friends that feel the same. I was in Ireland earlier this fall and everyone there was in total shock that Trump was even on the ballot. There was a lot of concern among the people there about what his presidency might mean to Europe. I think you hit the nail on the head with your blog today and I hope we wise up and start paying attention and searching and researching for the truth and not accepting renegade news as gospel. I am proud of your courage and I hope you continue to speak up. Your dad is watching and is proud of you. I hope you and Joe have a safe trip home.
To be honest, I have not read all the comments, but I did read your entire post. I feel like I’m stuck without any representation because I consider myself a pro-life Democrat and because of that, I am in anguish each and every election. I adored reading your words, your feelings. I choose to breathe love into every moment God gives me each day.
Much love!
Susan I think your blog is very thoughtful. It saddens me as well the divide in this country now… I must comment. I believe the divide has been in existence for a very very long time, it just needed a leader to bring it out. I think people’s heart need to change. We need to take the time to get to know one another. I am astounded that people are so selfish and don’t really care about others until it affects them personally. Bravo to you to want to see change. Ghandi said be the change you want to see in the world, right? I think we all have to take the courage to stand up for others. I don’t understand as a person of color why I am hated so much in the only country I have ever known, the country I love. My heart tells me to continue to see the best, and believe the best in others. I appreciate your candor today.
Thank you so much for speaking out…my heart is so heavy with sadness…xoxo.
I just turned to your blog tonight! Bless your heart, as we say in Texas. You go girl! I hope someone sends this to the New York Times. You are spot on and I am pleased that as I skimmed the comments they are positive. We are all Americans who love our country, but somehow we have become afraid to talk about it. Thank you for being brave!
I hope you and Joe have a wonderful trip home, I am so glad you are coming home. I was afraid you might stay in England.
Love you even more…if that’s possible! And I am sharing this link!
Susan, loved this post about our need to remember all that we have in common as your girlfriends and as Americans. Wonderful to see the happy pictures again from your book signings where no one was wearing name tags of political parties.
Unfortunately, feelings are running so high right now and are so raw, some of the girlfriends are not in a good place to be receptive. But, your words helped me as I struggle to put it all in perspective. This election was not for the faint of heart! Keep reminding us of all the good we all try to do.
Thank you for putting into words my exact feelings. It is nice to know there are others that feel the same way. United we stand, divided we fall!
Dear Susan and Girlfriends….I have prayed for everyone for several months now and my prayers will still be said for all. My heart hurts from all the lies and hurtful things that have been said. I remember in the old days of being on my best behavior crossing the street with my grandma and saying hello to the police officer allowing us to cross with safety. Always bowing my head in respect when passing a church. Having respect for community people weather it’s a police officer, fireman or a priest with a collar on . Yes those were the old days but I was taught how to respect other people and my daughters are teaching the same to my grandchildren. My prayers will remain for all of you for these are times to pray for peace to all.
Susan, all I can say is Thank You for that heartfelt, beautiful, eloquent blog. You put into words what many of us are feeling but can’t express. Thank you for being courageous enough to say what needs to be said. I think your Dad is smiling down on you saying “That’s my girl!” Safe journey home.
To the ever shining beacon Susan Branch…I love you and I salute you.
You are exactly right, all the people we love and the ways we show them; making a warm home, or beautiful meal, flowers by the bedside and notes in the lunch boxes, are things that bind us together. I am in the catagory(usually) of being a Dem. One of my bff’s is a very stanch Repub(usually) We don’t care! She is the most hilarious person! And a real foxhole friend. We love to cook and travel and laugh! So you are right, there is a a lot of money to be made by pitting us against each other. I choose to be Ferdnan the Bull. Smelling flowers instead of fighting at the behest of others. It took GUTS for you to write this. I’m so glad you did. If you didn’t address big, real issues, your site would be wonderful, but it would be fantasy. As you make it, you site IS wonderful and it is real! Blog Daddy, I just know, is proud you courageously and kindly spoke your heart. Best of EVERYTHING to you and Joe. God bless you both.
❌⭕️❌⭕️, Tawni Urrutia in Lodi, Ca.
Thank you, Susan. This did help me. Maybe we’re being like Dr. Seus’s sneetches. If we could focus on our commonalities instead of the differences we’d be ok.
Dear Sweet Sue…You are the cup of tea we all need. Strong & sweet with a teensy bit of medicinal whiskey (Scottish of course). I applaud & admire how true to yourself you are. How courageous. Your love & care & concern for all shines through. As a longtime ‘journal’ keeper myself, to not share your feelings at such a Time as this would be unthinkable. It would be like someone in the days of Lincoln…or Lewis & Clark…or a survivor of the Titanic…or Amelia Earhart…or someone who watched Jackie Robinson play…or heard Eleanor Roosevelt speak…or heard Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech or stood with Cesar Chavez…or worked as a Carny traveling the Country writing only about what they ate or wore or the weather. Unthinkable. You wrote from your heart. Powerfully, Profoundly and Poetically. You make us Think. You make us Smile. You make us Laugh. Your Passion and Zeal for Life, those are woven into every fiber of who & what you are. How could anyone expect anything Less from you. How at such a time in History could anyone expect merely mundane everyday chit chat about the Ordinary. Although the Ordinary is lovely & there’s a lot to be said for days of mundane ordinariness. So Thank You for such a thoughtful, insightful Blog. It’s all woven in with y’all’s Grand Adventure. So happy y’all were able to take such a Wonderful Trip. So grateful that you shared it with all of us. Because that’s who you are Sweet Sue. That’s what you do. And we love you. And Joe too. Just in cases that you were wondering…pink nightshirt with white stripes. Pink & black striped knee socks with a ruffled edge, scrunched down. No hat…though I do have several nightcaps for when we finally do get some real Winter weather out here in beautiful East Texas. The musica choice was perfecto. Safe travels…Bon Voyage…(ignore the Titanic reference)…soak up every bit of lovely olde England. And Welcome Home in advance. What a Journey! Love you to pieces.
Thanks for all your thoughts and ideas…but I cannot agree that you are in the ‘same boat’ as many of us, when you can be on the QE2 and in England for weeks at a,time while I work an hourly job in a,toxic crappy factory . Sorry but there are diffand get 2xweeks a,yea
It’s difficult to not feel defensive as for the last four years (for example) I have worked nonstop on an average of 12 hours a day (often 17), seven days a week. You don’t know me. We should not judge each other. We are all good people doing our best, doing the best we know how, in a really tough environment.
My comments,did not print properly. Not to be harsh but not all life is,so rosy
Hi Susan,
Thank you for this blog post. I have been reading all the many replies and differing points of view, but when I read the post from Pat Potash and how she dared not place a political sign in her yard and spoke of someone’s dog being poisoned because of a sign, it broke my heart and I cried and could read no more. But I do want to tell you that I ageee with you completely on your thoughts about us being pitted against one another by design, for greed and political gain. There is so much wrong with this country, and Trump tapped into the anger against the ‘establishment elites’ (whatever that means…) and ran with it. But I am puzzled by the many women here who speak of ‘values’ as their reason for voting for a man who obviously (obvious to me anyway) has very few ‘values’ other than whatever benefits himself. They speak of Hillary’s position on abortion without even knowing what her actual personal truth is! People will learn, unfortunately, that they have been ‘played’ by a conman of the worst order. They will now be living in the reality tv show that is America, not like anything they’ve known before. Hillary was not my first choice because Bernie spoke his truth and understood the underlying sense of hopelessness many of us have felt for so long due to the many topics you spoke of in your post- but I supported her, because I could not vote for that most horrible alternative, and I knew deep down in my heart that she is good despite all the mud that has been slung at her for so many years. I live in NY, and yes, I voted for Hillary twice as my Senator – and I was happy to do so and not ashamed of it!! I am glad that you can remain true to yourself. I try to live my truth as well and have instilled that truth in my three grown daughters, fine young women who also voted for Hillary and are now bereft with despair over what has happened. Enjoy your last days in England and safe travels across the sea. Soon you will be back home and with your precious Jack. May the loving warmth of heart and home continue to surround you with all good things.
With fond thoughts of you and all the joy your work brings to me,
Ellen S xoxo
Having enjoyed your blog for a while I find it distasteful to have to read more about how people feel this election panned out. It has been a horrible mud slinging campaign and now more mud!
Can we as a nation give the President Elect a chance as a huge part of America voted him in. Lets give this nation the chance to heal and maybe, just maybe, lots of good will come of this new administration. Why are we so quick to pass judgement before the proof is in? Can we be any worst off than we were prior to America’s definitive decision?
This is a great country we have, so many privileges, gifts, freedom to vote and we are sounding like a bunch of spoiled brats. No election is ever going to make everyone happy.
Stick to you sweet blog and stay away from this hate and slander it does not become you!
For the first time ever your post has really saddened me. As you mentioned earlier we were all taught that it’s impolite to discuss politics and religion in mixed company. Some of us don’t believe all the negativity about Donald Trump. Some of us live in a state that has been severely affected by the downturn in the economy, by the increased premiums for insurance, by crumbling bridges and lost jobs. Some of us have given up hope in the Democratic view that the government is the answer to every question, that the government can best dictate our food, our cars, our beverages, our everything. Some of us are very hopeful that some MAJOR housecleaning is taking place, right now. Some of us are absolutely appalled at the corruption involved in the Clinton Foundation, at the refusal of the Democratic party to acknowledge the Benghazi debacle, at the destruction of 31,000 emails by Hillary Clinton, at the sexual scandal from Bill Clinton, at the sexual scandal involved with Weiner. Some of us find The Clinton machine dirty, corrupt politics- money laundering, money received from foreign donors and then used to fund nuclear warheads in the middle east. With the election of Donald Trump, many of us felt that God’s hand was at work to help bring about wonderful, constructive changes….to clean up the corruption at the core of our country. Some of us- HALF OF US!- rejoiced that a successful businessman could possibly look at our government with new eyes, with objective eyes, and bring about peace, economic growth and prosperity. You talk about the CEO’s of large corporations as if they are all corrupt. It’s these very CEO’s that hire all the people that keep our country going. When has it ever been an embarrassment to be successful or to be wealthy or to feel secure? Why is it no longer considered acceptable to work hard, to set goals and to achieve success? And…what is the tipping point between “acceptable” wealth and non “acceptable” wealth. I would consider that you are wealthy as I know where you live, what you do and where you go. Should I ask you to give up half of your earnings because it’s the democratic way of thinking? Please, Susan, no more politics! I feel so saddened that you have taken this verbal stand. Some of us rejoice. As I said, half the country is rejoicing!
I thank God and wonder how i was born in America! We all CAN have our opinons…we all wont agree with each other…its been that way since the birth of AmericaGod shed His grace on thee !
I am very disappointed with this post. A huge fan, and that will not change, but I enjoy your work for the beauty and sweetness. I feel this is not the forum for a political rehash–we have Facebook and the media for that. I was excited to see your name in my inbox as it’s been awhile, and then politics and another rant about the election. Wow.
Thank you for this blog. I disagree, however, with the word “brave” to describe you. You spoke your truth, as each of us should. Women of our generation are too often passive, in my opinion. We can each speak our truth without being offensive to others. I agree that we must be vigilant and phone or write our congresspeople and stay on top of this Presidency. I am very concerned for my wonderful bi-ethnic grandkids, my Gay and Lesbian friends, non-Christian friends, people of color, special needs friends and Vets with this shocking turn of events in electing this unspeakable person. Already racist graffiti has marked my granddaughter’s school. A parent in the community organized a peaceful, loving welcome for students the following day which the district happily supported. A terrific peaceful protest was held around Lake Merritt in Oakland with over 3000 people from all walks of life holding hands in a vigil. My candidate did not win the election. As I did in 2000 and 2004 when my candidates weren’t elected, I will increase my volunteerism and donations to Planned Parenthood, Reach Out and Read, League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women, all organizations which I respect. Positive activism at work. Thank you, Susan, for opening this dialogue. And thanks for the C-Span suggestion! MJ
Okay…here is my two cents………this last week has been such a relief to know the ugly election is finally over with, but very saddening to watch peaceful protesters turn into destroyers, and be so disrespectful. I think they are causing such strife and division….but the media seems to keep fueling the fires. We ARE better than this! Like you said, Susan….we are all the same deep down, and we all want pretty much the same things out of life no matter whaat race, gender, religion, political views, etc etc. So I really appreciated the photos of all of the Girlfriends! Together and having fun, and getting along. That is the way to fight hate and intolerance and bigotry. Happy Thanksgiving dearest Susan and Joe! Thank you for sharing !
I am so very grateful for this blog post! I have felt in a complete panic since Trump was elected. I feel so much the same as you. I don’t want people to be targeted due to their race or religion. I don’t want women to be disrespected and not valued. I want my grandsons to be safe and loved and to have good educations and clean water to drink and clean air to breathe and beautiful nature to experience. I have cried. I have lost sleep and I have been afraid. I don’t know what to do but I am going to start by trying to be kind to everyone I meet. Your blog has really helped me. Thank you.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for your words which were so well spoken, and for the courage you have to express what is in your heart. I share your feelings and your fear for our future.
I am going to trust in the inherent goodness of our system and of our country to help moderate us back to a kinder and more thoughtful place. We can do it!
Susan, you are a courageous spirit, and You took a chance by pouring out your heartfelt emotions and concerns in a most difficult time. Many of us are grieving, and we have had anxiety, sleepless nights, and our appetites have been affected. Our relationships are suffering due to such division, and it has affected us profoundly, in ways I have never experienced to this degree.
I don’t know how our country will heal from this, but we must hang on to the hope that in time, the wounds will mend. I imagine such strife and division happened in the Civil War, and we still see the scars. In my opinion, only Love will reach across the vast gap. This has to take place within our own heart. Forget about everything that does not resonate with the power of peace and with love. If we all do our very best in that regard, perhaps we will see goodness and light emerge from the shadows of darkness and despair. We are in this together. Sending you love, sending you light, and wishing peace for us all. xo
Tears of both sadness and joy are streaming down my face as I read your entry! Thank you for sharing my heart thoughts . . . . . so difficult for me to express . . . . . you nailed it, sista!!!
Safe journey across the seas and looking forward to more of your entries!
Hi, I, for one, am thrilled that Hillary lost. She is strongly for abortion and I am strongly pro-life. We cannot survive as a nation if we kill our weakest and most defenseless. We need to love them both (mother and child).
As for Trump’s comments about grabbing women, I agree it was a gross thing to say and infuriating, but Bill Clinton’s ACTIONS/infidelities were far worse and Hillary knew about them, so where’s the outrage for this? I honestly didn’t read your entire rant. Some of it was just nonsense, sad to say. You bring such brightness to others, but some of your views here are, frankly, disappointing. I think we all need to pray and love more and talk less. God bless you.
Thank you, Susan for your brave and honest post. You have created a much needed forum for all of us to express our thoughts, and to be honest, I don’t think anyone is sleeping well – Trump supporters or not. You are correct when you say that “the powers that be” have manipulated us for their own gain. They have motives, those people with power and money. If they can breed unhappiness, dissention, and insecurity, they will remain in control. They do not need to do the thinking for us. Best to listen with our hearts and believe in the goodness that surrounds us. Safe travels to you and Joe
I replied to another comment above. I have read all the comments. You have stood up and caused us to THINK~ whether or not we agree. I think seeing an issue through another’s eyes is always difficult but I also think it is helpful. You did not make a mistake writing this post and be content in the fact that most people, agree or not, will stand by you. I do. I just appreciate that you have the courage of your convictions to speak in a public way. It is all good. Pray. Write again, soon!
Hello Susan, Joe and Girlfriends,
So glad you had a wonderful journey.
Missed the many blog entries as last time.
Not a twitter person, but did peak in a bunch to see how you were doing.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time!!
Regarding your feelings about the past weeks, well the media did their thing
spinning it as they wished. It was a lot out of perspective as usual…..but I didn’t expect anything different. I don’t think much of any of them or what they report. It was nice in the past years only to have news for an hour in the am and the national news for an hour at night. 24 hours a day is a bit much.
Well, being a positive glass half full person, I think that the majority of folks in the US just said they want change…..as in something different than what the “politicians” have been giving us. I hope they listened to the “silent majority” that just spoke in volumes. We’ll see.
Safe journey home. I know that your kittie Jack will be so glad to see you.
Cheers
Jan from Northern CA
Loved reading this. What a wonderful world it would be if we could all have empathy and respect one another, and if our elected leaders could have empathy and respect for all of us. You’re so right. America is already great! But I’m scared right now. Never again; when did half the country lose sight of this, or did they never have it in their sight. I will never ascribe to a bully culture that seems to be acceptable by some, and some elected a racist misogynistic bully. I’m sorry if that offends some, but it’s a fact. I’m practicing cautious optimism and worrying at the same time. It’s not fun. But I have a friend who had a cancer check two days ago and is “clean.” That’s what’s important to me right now.
This 70 year old Cape Codder is planning to go to Washington to join the women’s march on January 21, 2017. I have never been an activist but now is the time. I will carry a sign saying “Trump should apologize to women.” I am woman, hear me roar!
Dear Susan, Just a note to say “thanks” for your blog. I realize this were your way of venting, but some took it personally(probably a bit too soon as everyone’s still a bit fragile). Not I. Have a pleasant & peaceful journey home. Lovingly, Julia p.s. I’m the one who visits a sister on Cuttyhunk. Have you been there?
Unfortunately neither candidates were good, so i voted republican because I am prolife, period! Most will think I am horrible for being prolife, but I stand with my beliefs! And I was really hoping to read about your trip! I was pretty disappointed when it was about the election!:( We all need some joy in our lives! Next time can you tell us about Scotland!!?! Have a safe trip home to the United States of America!
You aren’t horrible, that’s what you believe and you have every right.
susan….you have laid your heart bare, as do many these days. there’s so much disappointment, anger, fear, but also much deception. unfortunately, we think what we think is true and right, but we have no idea the spirit behind so much of what we have been led to believe. the only way we can make sense of it all is to pray to the One who puts up leaders and puts down leaders. ultimately, we will only know the truth as we seek Truth Himself, Jesus Christ; and then we can be set free to believe for the help we need from the Only One who can help and those He chooses to use as we pray.
thank you for the inspiration you are. what gifts you’ve been given to inspire love and hope to so many with your art and friendship, and your sunny disposition that encourages us all. may your heart find the answers it seeks.
Hi Susan! I bet you have had the bestest time in England and I can’t wait to head more about it…will you write another “England book”??? I may have said this before, but we were in the Cotswolds in October and just had the lovliest time! My first trip to the English countryside and definitely not the last! Wishing you a safe journey home across the big pond…know you are so excited to cuddle with your kitties. I was deeply disappointed by the election results and still am. What you wrote here is poignant and thought provoking and I get it…this blog is not about Him or Her or Dems or Repubs…it’s about US. Thank you for enlightening me more on the dangers of buying into what the media is “selling”. I agree, I think the media is really the driving wedge in our country. Bless you, Susan!
Its about US, thank you for understanding. xoxo
Thank you ,Susan. I have fluctuated between disbelief and sadness this past week.I am 81 years old and have never been so frightened by the outcome of an election. You have said it all well. As for the person who will no longer buy your calendar, I will buy several more to give to friends. xo Annette
I appreciate all the help I can get Annette. Love you for saying that. Watching us being torn apart is breaking my heart too, and that it feeds into the coffers of the powers that be, to the detriment of our country and all the things that made it great, really makes me double upset.
I applaud you, Susan, for what you wrote!!! It was well-written and I couldn’t have said it better–Thank you!!!
Thank YOU Pat! That means a lot!
❤️
Ditto👏👏👏❣️
Thank you, dear Susan, for expressing so clearly and with much grace what has been in so many of our hearts! As I struggled through this l-o-n-g election year, the only thing that brought any peace was …”one nation, under God, indivisible!”
Safe travels home to us!
Indivisible. But we are letting that horrible thing happen right now, and it is undermining us and the powers that be are walking away with the store.
I agree that our Constitution and our awareness and vigilance will keep us on the right track .
At the same time. I must ask I think it was your second responder when “under God” was removed from the Pledge of Allegiance?. I retired as a teacher in New York State in 2006 and it was all in tact and “under God was in it then.
As far as I can tell, it’s still in it . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance ~ but they use that to divide us too. We are still one nation, under God. “In God we Trust” is the official motto of the United States.
Sue, Sue, Sue!
At this point you’ve been raked over the coals and I hope you are no longer responding to these comments. You should have never started. Rule 1) Never say what you think/feel unless it is as harmless as a kitten. 2) Never defend yourself. Ever. Blog rule.
That to me is the rule for blogging or publishing anything. Perhaps even in arguing with your children. Sadly, you gave room for comments, negative and positive and I commend you in your responses. I once witnessed a blogger who absolutely melted under the pressure of the adverse replies to a post. One questioned if she only expected positive comments…
I’ve often felt you had a platform to bring awareness to some causes. I felt like a jerk when I went on a bit about your position on the Ebola virus two years ago. As so many of your fans love, you made a comment on a post that assured us all that this would pass. Sadly, I had hoped that you would use your popularity to encourage people in the awareness. But, I realize the isn’t a blog with a platform or a place for you to express personal causes or beliefs.
That said, you are going to have haters. The nation is divided and your friends are now divided. You took a big step, and a brave one. At the end of the day you were very true to yourself and you have a place to express yourself. STOP defending your position!! You have brought so much good into our lives, it’s okay to have an opinion!
Get some sleep. It may only be 4-8 years of our lives but we’ll just have to party like it’s 1999!
Love ya,
Jane
LOL, blog rules! I should write them down! We who stumble into it, only do it because we deeply care. If people saw that maybe they could forgive. I’ve probably lived in a joy bubble way too long. My only goal is to be heard. If people then want to jump ship, they have every right to do it. But, I say it again, we are being used and divided by corporate interests. WE are not the bad guy, THEY are getting away with murder by making us think we are the problem. Okay, yes Jane, I’ll get quiet soon. I answer a comment, and another 10 come in, I’ll never get through them. Right now there are 642 waiting for me … I want to read them, but I have to go pack, so they are probably just going to sit there for a while. Basically, probably, we’ve already said everything any way!
I agree with what another reader wrote…just dump all the rest of the comments, including anything else I wrote! I’m sure people penned replies they spent a lot of time on but, you know, maybe it helped just writing it out, even if it doesn’t get published. Sometimes when I’ve replied to various blog posts (not just your blog), it’s more about just sorting out my own thoughts in this confusing time than probably contributing anything new. I think we’re all going nuts with uncertainty … emotions are still all over the place. Anyway, you can’t be expected to read hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of reader comments. When you wrote the post, I don’t think you were necessarily, first thought, looking for a response anyway, right? It was there, in your soul and mind, and you needed to get it out, make a passionate plea. Said & done. Feels better to purge, knowing you might hit a good note with even one person but even if you don’t, you needed to do this for you; for your sanity, for your peace. It’s your blog; we don’t own you. I can’t stand seeing you slammed for your opinion. Some of these readers are being downright rude to you. I’m feeling protective! I agree that probably everything’s been said that could be said here…you’ve already, fairly, printed out MANY blog replies…and there were some very good, objective reader comments that I really did gain some insight from along with, of course, your spot-on, from-the-heart post. But it might be time to close comments; you’re allowed to do that; it happens on blogs all the time. I try not to take it personally if I don’t get published. I think it’s pretty generous that a blog owner leaves room for comments in the first place.
Funny! Well, I might have to! But I don’t want to … It’s 7:30 pm here now. We have to go over to Rachel’s tonight, tomorrow we go. Computer is a no go in the car . . . we don’t get on the boat until Saturday… and connection is the pits on the ship. I had no idea this would be so crazy, we’re up to 748 comments waiting for “moderation” and I just got done moderating 50 or so. It’s impossible to keep up with. If any of you are reading this, wondering what is happening to your comment, this is it! I’ll keep trying to do more, but I just don’t see how 700 is possible. THANK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR INVOLVING YOURSELF IN THIS DISCUSSION. The world needs us, we can make it a better place if we just believe in each other. Much love to you, Vicki. xoxoxo
I just have to chime in here and say how much I love the photo of that adorable little girl. Her missing front teeth, her orange head band, her heart t-shirt with the dolphins, her flip flops, her bright eyes and the way she’s holding her hands to her chest–what a doll!! Susan–I’d get such a kick out of seeing her illustrated in one of your books:).
And that LOOK in her eyes, that’s what gets me. I remember having that look and feeling in my own eyes, and I want that for all children. ALL children.
Listening to my Musica Susan while finishing work on my computer this evening & sometimes the most apropos & thought provoking music was of OUR early generation. A reminder of how ‘activism’ is still very important, how the youth is still our promise of hope in a better future. I stumbled on one of my ol’ faves by The Byrds: Turn, Turn, Turn ~~ thought of you.
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late!
Lovely. 🎼 “I swear it’s not too late.” I pray, actually, not being the swearing type. xoxo
Dearest Susan, Love your blog. You are courageous to share your viewpoint.
Since you asked when did half become the other and half become reviled…I think it was a build-up over time. It began when abortions were forced onto taxpayers, when men were allowed to enter women’s restrooms, when children were taught that pedophiles like Harvey Milk are to be honored, when our jobs left the states, when the Americans were left behind to die in Benghazi, when we see what is happening in Europe and don’t want it here…and quite a few more things that I won’t bring up.
Re Christmas – schools can’t use red and green napkins in December, sing Christmas carols or say Christmas or Easter holidays (just winter and spring breaks). They talk in length about Hanukah, Kwanza, and muslim holidays but can’t mention Christ. I walk into year-round Christmas stores but there are no nativities. Happy Holidays is fine, but so is Merry Christmas. Christmas isn’t about presents, Santa, trees, snowmen or good feelings. It is a Christian holy day, when we celebrate Christ’s birth, even though it is not his real birthday. Easter celebrates Christ’s resurrection, and has nothing to do with bunnies, eggs, or spring. We are tired of being told the real meaning of our holy days can’t be talked about. That is the war on Christmas – not that we fear we can’t celebrate it anymore.
Re manufacturing – I agree with you. I hope more people join us in visiting small stores and paying a little bit more, especially to buy American.
I don’t believe in free college, because people don’t seem to value what they don’t pay for. High school used to be enough…and now college isn’t even enough…you must have an advanced degree to do well. College also seems worthless without jobs. When I hear what is happening on college campuses I am appalled, but that is a different issue. Many of us have worked our way through college without incurring debt. I had stupid debt, had to learn the hard way about credit cards…just like students will learn about loans: school, car, and home loans. You can still graduate today without massive debt. It is a choice (on where you go to school).
We’ve only had the DOE for 37 years….state education did better without it, and most people dislike Common Core being forced upon them for federal money. Have you personally seen the new math? Ridiculous. This is another reason why homeschooling doubled from 1999-2013 (2016 DOE report). An interesting book about the DOE is “None Dare Call it Education.”
Totally agree with you about your paragraph on “evil forces” and that is exactly why we elected a non-politician that isn’t controlled by lobbyists or the media. “We the people” are “DONE” with open borders and Wall Street globalists, radical terrorism apology tours, economic deterioration. And because of it we are called low-info, flat-earthers, irredeemable, racist, vulgar, and deplorable.
I don’t believe anyone elected Trump because he is a man, because many did vote for a woman when Sarah Palin was on the ticket. It really isn’t about the gender of the President at all.
I don’t understand your comment on Trump inciting violence and “bringing this country to civil war” in order to win. When did you see violence? I only saw Trump supporters getting bashed by paid protestors. Who is burning and breaking things, shutting down freeways and endangering people, cussing on youtube at voters….who is inciting violence? I didn’t see, hear of, or meet any angry Trump supporters during the pre-election months. They all seemed calm and rational to me. And I live in a blue state.
Re Trump’s children, remember Hillary said, “I respect his children. His children are capable and devoted…” (smile)
Thanks for listening to my point of view. Looking forward to your next “homey” post. Have a safe trip home. Glad you’ve had a wonderful time.
Oh my God. I have never seen a man in a women’s restroom in all my life and I have been in many restrooms. That is exactly the kind of fear mongering that is used to divide us. Don’t bother giving me 17 examples of where this has occurred, just know that this is how they separate us, with fear talk that means nothing in the real world. I appreciate your point of view, but until we notice how we are being purposely divided by our media in order to line their own pockets, nothing will ever change for your lives or your children, except perhaps, more violence. It’s going to take guts for us to notice this and tell them NO MORE. I applaud all of us who try.
You may not have seen a man in the restroom but surely you are aware that it is legal. The current President wrote it into law. Totally agree with everything you said Janine. Bravo!
I believe it’s a state issue. But whatever it is, it should not be used to divide us.
Oh SUE…I want to live in your area…no kooks leering over bathroom stall doors in women’s bathrooms!! YES…happened to ME and a couple of other ladies, when we were in a nearby town Costco, right after it was made ok to have men, or women, going into bathrooms of whatever they prefer…fortunately, I came in at the end of this episode and that man who was at least 6’6″tall, just chucked me a bit hard on top of my head…and went dancing out like a ballerina…Costco folks got right on that and hopefully he lost his membership card!! The only way such a thing can divide us is if us victims are not believed!! I do not like men other than my husband to touch me…so it was NOT appreciated!! I was glad it was no worse. But my daughter who is still young, is very careful where she lives (opposite coast)…thankfully she could protect herself, being a black belt in Karate!! Ladies if you can, do what you can to learn self defense!! It may be needed in days to come.
I’m sorry that happened to you, but women are raped every day in their own homes, sick and violent people are everywhere. And saying that all men should never be allowed to leave home because there are a few rotten apples, would be going too far, don’t you agree? Weirdos are everywhere these days. Psychiatric hospitals were all closed in the 80s, congress needed our own tax money for other things, like lining their own pockets, instead of protecting the American people. If you’ve ever had a mentally challenged person in your life, you’ll see how impossible it is to get them help.
Janine and Kim…I just had to speak out over a certain aspect of your comments…I guess you are talking about the transgender community when you refer to ‘men’ in the female restrooms. They are women – they always have been, they were just born into the wrong body. As Christians, I would hope you could show tolerance, acceptance and compassion toward your fellow humans…their lives are difficult enough!
Thank you Ray, that was perfect.
Oh my gosh. I can’t believe that people actually believe this. Lord help us.
On the mark again, Rachel. THANK YOU. XOXO
Susan, I love you, your blog, books (I have them all) and have since before internet. I met you in person. LOVE LOVE LOVE you. You inspire me and are on my list of people that I admire. I’m rereading your trilogy books right now in anticipation for another fun book to read. Your post….I just wish it never happened. Or I wish I didn’t see it or read it. Even worse are some of the harsh responses from you to your fans that are giving their point of view after reading your blog post. My stomach dropped when I read the response that you are almost 70 and do not care and that you don’t need to paint or write books any more. The people agreeing with you are getting a thumbs up while the other half of your fans are being told that we are wrong. We all voted, we have a winner in this election and that is the end of it. A lot of people were not happy with Obama but we lived with the results. I did not go out and protest or burn my town down. Or even debate with my friends that voted for him. I did lose my job of 32 years in medical and now working double the hours for half the pay. Most of my pay goes to healthcare. (for me and for others that don’t work). Everyone had their own reasons to vote one side or the other.
I respect your opinion but do not want to be preached to. I am an animal rights activist and learned quick that preaching did not get people to “my side”. But quietly going about my business and my beliefs brought more people to me asking about vegetarianism and helping animals. I learned that from a wise animal rights activist….I feel strong about my beliefs but don’t preach because I was alienating people that I love.
I hope you have not broken up your girlfriends into two sides. Us and Them and that is exactly what it looks like as I read the posts, comments, countercomments. I almost did not comment and I am sure there are a lot of people that are keeping quiet and are in shock that their gurufriend 😉 has dropped this bomb. Or are afraid to comment.
I had a coworker that would keep bringing up politics and her strong opinion and when I tried to voice mine, she would talk over me. I finally smiled and said “lets drop it and just be friends”
I feel sad, bummed, betrayed even…. from your post. Like they say….”unless your business is politics, keep politics out of your business” I think you mean well, but you are missing the point of half the country and half your fans. Your blog, books, lifestyle is (was) a respite from the craziness for us girlfriends. I feel like you and your half are walking away and telling the other half to take a hike. It is 1am here so I am off to sleep. You are a special person in a lot of lives, from both sides of the aisle. Peace and Love to you and Joe
I don’t mean to preach. My point was that it didn’t matter who won the election, because we have a much bigger problem, and that’s how we are divided, all the vitriol, the anger, and now the violence. I’m saying that if we follow the money, it is easy to see who is benefiting by this divide. The rich get richer and our government is no longer working for us. My blog isn’t going to change. But I didn’t feel like I could be true to myself if I didn’t share this insight with my girlfriends. We, all of us, no matter what side we’re on, are being used.
I find it odd that you did not respond to her comment “Even worse are some of the harsh responses from you to your fans that are giving their point of view after reading your blog post.” You praise those who agree with you and nothing for those who do not share some of your thoughts. That is causing division in and of itself. We all love what you do and look forward to more of the wonderful things you do.
When someone wants to talk to me about divisive things, I try not to get into it with them, I try to bring the conversation back around to the fact that we are being divided. Because we are being divided.
but your post did divide us.
We were divided long before this!
I keep reading all the responses – both in agreement and those that disagree. It makes me so sad that you seem so completely “brainwashed” that you are unable to see the entire picture and the Serious issues related to Clintons and the “Over the Top” Left. You just say you “know” anything negative about them/the Left is not true. Really??!! I’m not sure I have ever read or talked to someone so completely taken in by the Left. And it is Clear that you do Not like Anyone to disagree with you and you dismiss them with the strangest comments – “you didn’t read what I said”. Yes, they did. They do Not agree with what you said. I just would never have believed that you not only Believe the things you do, but that you would be Adamantly Opposed to other views. It’s all so Sad….I am willing to listen and consider other views – I have learned and grown from doing that. I’m not a Democratic, but I have learned from President Obama and grown from some of his ideas. But you are right – you certainly don’t have to listen and think about anything other than your fixed ideas of our Country and the people in it. I am so Glad everyone doesn’t feel that way, or we would be back in a Civil War. I hope we can all work together and learn from each other – not shut each other down because someone doesn’t think Exactly like you. I love your work and I never would have guessed you would be that kind of person. Astonishing. I am sure my comments will be among those “moderated” out of existence. I have never posted anything online, but my level of astonishment at your closed mind is off the charts……as is your snappishness at Anyone that disagrees with you in the slightest. Wow. Have a nice life. As for me, I will continue to listen and learn and contribute to working together for the good of what the founding Fathers designed – a Democracy where all views are welcome. A closed mind can contribute a thing……
Your assumption that I “moderate comments out of existence” is clearly unfair and untrue. “That kind of person” — the words of division. It’s fine if we disagree, but there’s no reason to hate people that think differently. I do have to listen, actually, in case you can’t tell by all the responses to everyone here, I WANT to listen, all I said was if people hate me for what I write, so be it. I can’t control that. I encourage this discussion, hard as it is, it has to start somewhere, because divided we will never stand. And if you take the time to follow the money, you will see who is winning when we don’t vote, when we are given two candidates that will change nothing, where even our popular vote means nothing.
This is how I am feeling. No one could love you more than I have, dear Susan, but I don’t feel cared about. I am sad for you. I realize your heart must be hurting. Some have been abrasive in their comments, but in all truthfulness, it appears that if we differ in conviction, we are no longer counted amongst beloved girlfriends. I am very sad. This blog was a refuge for my heart.
You are reading this wrong. Because this is a bring together moment about how we are more alike that different and how we should believe in the good hearts of all Americans and not let ourselves be torn apart by people who are making money from doing just that. I have never said that because you voted differently than me that I don’t count you as a friend. I showed those photos of Girlfriends and said, look at them, look how much we have in common. I have no idea how those women voted, and I really don’t care. I hope you can still enjoy and feel welcome here even tho you know I voted for a different candidate. I still think we have everything in common.
Hi Susan,
As others said, I was looking forward to reading about your trip, partially as a way to put aside for awhile the problems in our country. I was disheartered to see that your post was about the state of our country. Just yesterday, I decided to take time off from FaceBook because I just cannot stand any more fake hate news or any more comments about how our country is on the verge of collapsing. But I read your blog anyway, you asked us to, and so I did. It was heartfelt and I agree with so much of what you say. No one can know what the future holds for our country. I believe it is the hands of the American people to return to valuing each other and treating each other love and respect. That’s the only way change is going to come. As a society, we have been on a downhill slide for many years. We are becoming a nation of people who are spoiled and self-centered and we throw temper tantrums when we don’t get our way. I pray for us and I pray for healing. And I thank you for your sincere words.
Now….time to enjoy your trip home, Susan!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply Jeanne, I appreciate it.
Susan, I always tell my dear Cousin that I want to be you when I grow up. So when I saw the above opening of this blog, I was not only disappointed, but shocked that you decided to make your platform political.
Did you just become aware of everything you wrote about? It has been happening for quite awhile. You kept saying “it’s not about Trump or Hillary, it’s about “us.” But, the majority of “us” voted for change. The other part of “us” wanted something else. And yes, I carefully read your blog; not once but twice, just to confirm that I had read it correctly the first time.
Susan, I realize now that I am “grown up.” And I like being me just fine. I no longer need to look forward to your writings, your books, your adventures, & all that goes with being Susan Branch. You see, I have faith in “us” & faith that God will lead “us” forward. Yes, politics is a dirty business & those who are elected by “us” need to be given a mandate. Donald Trump is our President-elect & his success, our country’s success, truly depends on each one of “us.” It’s too easy to always blame someone else.
No matter who won this election, we all lose until we see how we are being divided, that’s the real story. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, we have managed, as a country to get along for years without everyone seeing things exactly alike, and we still managed to move forward. I want us to see what this divisiveness is doing to our country now, and who benefits from it, and most of all, what road it is taking us down. Because we are ALL, both sides, taking a long walk off short pier. And the powers that be walk away with our jobs, and our money, and there is nothing left for us. Yes, it’s been going on for years, but I finally just got a handle on it and wanted to share it with my girlfriends and see what they think.
Thank you Susan for having the courage to put this forward. I too have seen what the media and big banking and corporations have done to us and am sickened by it and the divisiveness in our country and am praying hard for our country and our people! Safe travels back home, Looking forward to more of your blogs and Willard..
Thank you Carol, more to come, this too shall pass!
Susan, thank you for being brave and speaking your truth. Your love, and tea, and art doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it is part of the world, and sadly, the politics of division can poke it’s ugly head in. What I am feeling is that if you run as a “d”, you had best be a saint, and even if you are someone as upstanding as our current president (no ugly words, trying to unite, true to his wife), you still get accused of being born in Kenya, or being a different religion, or some other nonsense. But if you run as an “r”, you can hire a neo-nazi for your chief of staff, talk about grabbing a woman in her most delicate parts, and make fun of someone disabled, and somehow, people will make excuses for you. Remember when presidents acted presidential? And yes Bill C. really disappointed me with his behavior, but our president elect, lacks the gravitas, dignity and standing that would make him fit for office. As much as I disagree with the R. party, at least Regan, Romney, and Bush Sr. were people you could respect, and not be afraid that hatred for the “other” would be the order of the day. Right here in SLO town, my neighbor’s boss, who is black, was heckled by a truck full of young men, called the N word, and they said they would be back to “Trump” him. No! That is not America! Respect and care for one another, that is America. I agree that the big Corps. have taken over way too much power. The anger and division are corroding us, and we need to stop, and to work together.
First we have to recognize what they are doing to us and how they benefit from our division. Our country will not get better until we do, because we just give them a ticket to ride. Breaks my heart to hear about your neighbor. This is a culture of division that is quite frightening to any caring person.
Dear Susan,
I love you even more now! I’ve never commented before, but just wanted to add my voice to those who appreciate your bravery in posting this. I know it can’t be easy to risk angering some when you have a large following (I wish more people would use their platforms to make their voices heard when it comes to politics and other sensitive topics). At times like this I want to hear the thoughts of people I look up to, so ignore the grumpy commenters who have closed their eyes to the powerful message you are sharing.
It all feels like nightmare–I think I cried every day last week thinking about the sheer terror many are feeling right now (I am one of the 20 million who only have health insurance thanks to the ACA, but losing health insurance is nothing compared with the very real danger immigrants, the LGBT community, etc. etc. are facing).
But I’m all talked-out about the election. The WONDERFUL thing about this is how it has already brought people together to better their communities. People are donating money to charities! People are volunteering around town! People in my city have started a 5k-member Facebook page that is setting up get-togethers to discuss how they can make a positive difference. I do think that this has shocked so many into becoming better people already (me!). We can no longer sit back and hope that people will do what’s right–WE need to be the ones actively fighting for a better world. I am just learning this at 32. The outpouring of caring for each other and can-do in the past week is keeping me going when things seem bleak. People are good!
Thank you for all the happiness your books have brought into my life, Susan. It’s times like this I just want to crawl into the pages and live there! And thank you for the beautiful community you create here. Much love.
It makes me cry to think of so many people losing their health care. Every civilized country on earth has “free” health care for its citizens, paid for with their own money, the tax money they earned and sent to the government for use in making a better country. We could have that. But the Insurance Industry does NOT want it!!!! Pharmaceutical Industry, totally against it!!! They like being allowed to charge us 900 dollars for a pill that saves our four year old’s life. And so, like the NRA, we do not own our country. They take our money and use it against us.
Oh Susan! My heart is breaking right now. Ever since I was 17 years old, you have been one of my hero’s. I have all your books. I’ve cooked your recipes. I’ve anxiously awaited for your Willards to arrive. I’ve traveled long distances to meet you. I always felt we were Kindred Spirits. This blog post has pierced me to my core. I completely understand that this is your blog and that you have the freedom to say and write anything you please. I just wish with all my heart that you had kept this as a safe haven a secret escape a refuge. Why bring so much hurt and hate into such a lovely place? Here, I felt we were all “Girlfriends” we didn’t all have to agree on politics or discuss the ugly realities of life. We could leave our troubles at the door and enjoy a brief moment of utter, unabashed happiness. We could pour a cup of tea, pull up a comfy chair, light a candle and soak in the beauty of England,vintage quilts, antique dishes, all while enjoying your whimsical artwork. Here we were united. We had nothing to separate us. This blog post has destroyed our unity. Now, instead of us coming together to celebrate all the beauty we create and find in every day life, we are slapped in the face with anger, bitterness, judgement and division. You didn’t have to become part of the problem by dividing us more. By saying “Let the chips fall where they may” you clearly showed that you were not worried about how your words might hurt one of your loyal fans. It’s quite heartbreaking.
It has come to my attention that our Girlfriends, our country, is being torn asunder from within. We are being used, and would like us to just take a look at it and see what we can do to fix it.
I think you are missing Donna Marie’s point. “”This blog post has destroyed our unity. Now, instead of us coming together to celebrate all the beauty we create and find in every day life, we are slapped in the face with anger, bitterness, judgement and division””
If it has, then it’s being taken wrong. Neither Trump nor Clinton as the new president will change the division between the American people, and that’s what I’m trying to get us to take a look at. I am not angry, bitter, judging, or dividing. Well, I’m a little mad, but it’s not at US. We are the good guys. And that means you and everyone who thinks like you and everyone who thinks differently from you.
I think Donna Marie has explained how at least half of Susan’s longtime fans are feeling right now. Very sad that a blog we all looked forward to as a relief from the bad in this old world has become a source of painful division and feeling “less than”.
Thank you Susan. Your pain is my pain. Each time I try to write a response, it gets very, very long and gives me a headache, so I’ll just say I appreciate that you wrote and what you wrote. Enjoy your last days in England and getting back home.
Gives me a headache too Ann, but for these few minutes, I’m willing to have a headache until I finish trying to drill my hypotheses into everyone’s head, that we are in this thing together, and we are drilling holes in our own boat.
Wow! Thank you for diffusing the hatred. I made it through the whole blog and feel comforted by it. Comforted that I am not the only one trying to let this strange new reality push me into action instead of remaining on the seat of anger and fear.
We can do hard things! Let’s get to work, loving each other and actively working to protect our country. 🙂
Praying for traveling mercies for you and Joe and you board the ship for home.
Working together to make a better country! I am so for that! Our congress has been stymied for years, nothing is getting done because one side won’t work with the other. We need all of us! Thank you Daralyn!
Hi Susan! Hope you are enjoying your trip! By all these comments it is apparent that you have a great following~women who admire you. Many of them share your political views and that’s great. I agree Donald Trump seems rough around the edges but really some of our beloved past presidents were no saints when it came to womanizing. JFK and his infamous daddy were notorious for their sexual extracurricular activities. Bill Clinton ( who you kind of tried to defend here about getting Monica out of the picture or something… ) was a womanizer as well. Donald Trump bragging to Billy what’s-his-name in a trailer didn’t shock me as much as finding out that JFK was screwing ( sorry) Marilyn Monroe!!! Believe me neither Hillary or Trump are going to be canonized for sainthood but someone needs to stop the corruption and the pay-to-play attitude in our government that has festered for many years. Trump won because Americans are desperate for a change. Remember you are very popular and that gives you a lot of power with your fan base. Use it wisely and always lead with evidenced based information as to not sway your followers by your feelings. It’s called the power of the pen (just like the news media you named).
Despite the commentary, and with all due respect, what these guys did in their private lives does not concern me as much as how it is being used now to divide us into the good guys and the bad guys. (Please try not to get us back into the P word and DT, if I would have heard Clinton say that before he was elected, I would have felt the exact same way, disgusted.) We DO need a change, but Donald is more of the same, as was Hillary. Thank you for the “popular” comment. I hope I open eyes to how we are being used.
Dear Susan,
Hello!
I live across the pond and had no say in matters political but have been observing the events of your great nation with interest! I appreciate you sharing your heartfelt feelings…you have always done this so why would you not do so now…that’s what we all love about you and your wonderful books…all the endearing quotes, fun or sadness and coziness of your life allowing us to believe in and just ‘be’ ourselves xox
Whatever ‘side’ girlfriends are on regarding serious and thought provoking issues I believe in the basic good will of everyone…the very reason we are on your blog and buying your books is because we are all pretty well like minded in most things…and as simplistic as it might sound I’m going to think of Anne of Green Gables and say “Tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes”
Please enjoy the rest of your holiday and don’t go to bed with a heavy heart..you are loved, and everything will be alright!
Thank you so much, Terry. I woke up singing “We are the world, we are the children…” I have a happy heart. I believe in us, all of us. I believe that thinking about this stuff can’t hurt. I am sorry about this stab of bleakness on the blog right now, but this too shall pass. . .💖
I just received Susan’s beautiful pack of Christmas cards. Upon opening the package I was quickly reminded of the talents that this special ‘girlfriend’ possesses…the words ‘Christmas love, compassion, kindness, respect, brotherly love, courtesy’ jump right out at me and remind me that this person so many are quick to dissent, all she is trying to do is open a dialogue and care for her fellow ‘girlfriends’. All of us who waited in book signing lines for hours did so because we admired her talents and found true joy in everything she produced. Her words did not cause angst nor strife then and shouldn’t now. Susan is entitled to her opinions just as you are entitled to yours. Thank you Susan for these lovely Christmas cards. They will surely be put to good use.
Love to all and Peace on Earth 🌎XOXO
Kelly, you are so sweet, thank you for your support. Yes, those words “Christmas love, compassion, kindness, respect, brotherly love, courtesy” — we all agree with. All of us. None of us is a baby killer. None of us is a hick.
I disagree with your views on our new President but the thing that makes this country the greatest in the world is that you and I have the right to disagree without fear of reprisal from the powers that be.
I could spend a long time debating this issue but this is YOUR blog and I shall abstain so as not to encourage anymore dissent.
I had a boss that used to say…”You know you go along and do a good job and everyone says “attaboy!” And one day you screw up and it wipes out all them “attaboys!” Well, hopefully this is not the case as you are a caring, loving, big hearted lady and this is the best blog on the internet!! (even if we don’t always agree!!!)
Hopefully the election didn’t put too much of a damper on your trip. Hurry home! Linda from Idaho where it is sunny and low 60’s and my geraniums are still blooming their hearts out!
Thank you Linda…Love you for saying that. Watching us being torn apart is breaking my heart. No matter who won this election, we all lose until we see how we are being divided. Honest discourse is a good thing. xoxo
Susan,
When you first started publishing, was it in the 1980s? I have many books of yours from that time period where you proudly (and rightly so) wrote “Printed in the United States”. Your company has grown A LOT (a wonderful thing). But now I see in recent books “Printed in South Korea” or “Printed in Singapore”. Perhaps your concern is a money matter. As we all know, President Elect Donald Trump takes issue with ChChChina or Mexico ultimately shutting down our factories, leaving the United States with high unemployment rates (and a lot of people are done looking for jobs having no other choice but to go on the ol’ government handouts or turn to drugs to ease the pain, breaking families and lives apart – it is a tragedy). I truly believe Trump wants to help put America to work again because there is dignity in that. He wants America to thrive. What is wrong with that?There’s a whole lot of spoiled brats out there protesting – I mean VANDALIZING – who could be setting up shop right here in the U.S. I believe Trump is going to help make that happen soon. I am so excited and optimistic about the changes for good for this country. And I know Trump is interested in gifted artists getting a break financially on publishing their books right here in the United States again.
Not really. If you look closely, you’ll see that those books were printed by Little Brown and Company or by Vineyard Stories where I had no control of where they were published. Which is one reason I became my own publisher. I proudly print everything in America. Of course it costs me TWICE as much to do it. Which makes it difficult to make a profit, especially since I am on my own, but I believe in us more than I believe in money. Good for me or not. I honor your right to vote for whoever you want…my issue is that our country is being pulled apart ~ I don’t want everyone to agree with me, I want us to see how we are being used, and what it is doing to our country. Thank you for your comment.
Melissa,
Difficult for me to read what you wrote about Susan’s past publisher’s when she had no control yet you make no mention of our pres-elect purchasing EVERYTHING in his hotels, clothing lines, his daughter’s items, golf courses, casinos everything of his and her’s are made overseas. If he believes so much in “made in America”, then why hasn’t he been using American made products for the last 30 to 40 years and supporting his country? Even the steel used to build his casinos was “made in China”. Why not in USA?
Susan is trying her best to show everyone the divisions are being caused by a media that makes money off of divisions. I stopped watching opinionated news networks because I realized all they did is lie to gullible people who only want to hear what they think and believe and not research to discover the truth. I support everything Susan has said and for those who think she was wrong to post this blog…… ..they are wrong…. It’s the best thing she could have done for the majority of us and if she loses some of you believe me the rest of us will make sure to replace the folks she lost by spreading the word about how wonderful and comforting and consoling her words are in times like these when many of us need to hear her voice. Sorry, just tired of seeing unfair words being written. Let’s be honest and fair about this.
Susan, please keep up your positive, wonderful spirit and always remember there are thousands and thousands and thousands of us that appreciate everything you say and do.
My hope is not to lose any of us, but to bring us back together again. I am tired of us being divided when we all know that United we Stand, and there’s no way around it. They are killing our country, sending away our jobs, taking our tax money and giving it to their friends. And letting us blame each other for it, and it is simply not our fault. We have to go after them for this. Thank you for sticking up for me Carolyne. I think we do have to put our money where our mouths are. Just saying you’re for something is not enough.
Thank you Susan, so much. I agree with everything you said. I’ve been struggling with how to handle all this and what I can do to help defend the advances made for women, minorities, the envirnoment….. Frankly, I have been very sad. People, such as yourself, give me hope.
It is sad, if we aren’t feeling sad, then we aren’t noticing how awful it’s become. Our country is being torn asunder from within, and those people doing it are calling some of US, un-American. That is wrong. We can vote on different sides of the ticket! There is nothing wrong with that!!!
Wow! How I love everything you stand for and everything you share with us. Your thoughts and words are so right! It is so up to us to promote love and kindness and it is the resounding message of our Lord and Saviour!
I wore black when I voted and said to many I was and am in mourning over this whole mess we have endured for the last 18 months but it does not defeat me and what I truly stand for and what I want to teach my 10 grandchildren is love, kindness, respect, and reaching out to people with a hand up and not just a hand out. We are all, no matter what color, religion, race etc., precious in His sight and we must be imitators of the one who created us.
God truly does work in mysterious ways and can use this mess to be our message of hope to each other!
I will pray you and Joe home and look forward to more sharing of your amazing trip when you get back. You are a constant inspiration and I turn to your blog almost daily when things get hectic because it gives me such lovely things to consider in so many ways!
Love,
Linda Terry
“It is so up to us to promote love and kindness and it is the resounding message of our Lord and Savior!” Well said, Linda. We are each other’s back in good times and in bad. Don’t worry, we have many lovely things to share, just need to get past this little blip in the blog talk!
Hi Susan! First of all….thank you for posting. You must be exhilarated but somewhat tired from your travels. I followed you like a little pocket sized fairy over hill and dale and luxuriated in all of the beautiful places that you took us. I’m forever grateful for my..I mean our.. trip to England and Scotland. I’ve been to London but not the countryside. What a feast for the eyes! I think Oxford was my favorite but I would’ve done anything to be at the Waddleston manor Christmas Fair. My mom and I used to put up 8 Christmas trees before she got sick. I treasure those memories. And..now I have an ornament of yours to add to the joy of the holiday. Knowing you through your blog has been a true gift this year. One that I didn’t expect. You gave your heart’s wisdom to me even when you were hurting yourself. That’s a true friend. So I am having a hard time reconciling the behavior of some of the girlfriends. Maybe I am being naive, but doesn’t loyalty mean anything anymore? You are an artist…and as such it is your duty to seek out truth and beauty. The flip side of that is to expose ugliness. Corporate greed, sexism and all the other isms have run rampant for too long. How many innocent men have been gunned down this year? Sadly, I have lost count. Children don’t feel save in their schools. There was just another assault (a knifing) . It didn’t even make top billing on the national news. How could you not comment? Your blog usually covers the Heart of the Home…but who lives in that home? Overworked mothers struggling to pay for daycare and fathers that are desperate for employment. Fear seems to rule the day. People are literally fighting for the right to survive because the powers that be have sold them out. First corporate america took our jobs overseas…then our pensions fizzled because Wall street sold us all short and then the bankers came for our homes. The drug companies robbed us of the last nickel from our pockets. And the rich and corrupt got richer. Enter DT, who by the way, freely admits, nay brags about his actionable & leacherous deeds and tax evasion but gives you a scapegoat for all of your problems. Our kids are taking NRA sponsored shotguns to class, but it’s the poor down-trodden immigrants fault your honor. They did it. They ruined America. Is anyone else feeling a little bit of dejavu here? Insert the Jewish people for immigrants and the man with the mustache seems to spring to mind. Meanwhile, nobody seems to have a real plan for getting this country back on its feet again. I say we pull out of all of these wars and get our military started on fixing a few bridges and roads. I say we allow every college kid to pay off their college loans with a couple of years of service to their country. I say we start taxing the heck out of these drug companies that gouge and cripple our old and weak. We may not agree about everything but if we stop talking to each other we will never agree on anything. Thank you Susan for getting the ball rolling. Just remember if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything. Godspeed.
It’s important. No matter who won this election, we would all lose until we see how we are being divided. It’s as simple as that. I don’t want everyone to agree with me, I want us to see how we are being used, and what it is doing to our country.
Well put. Bless you for making such a bold move, taking a chance. Safe travels as you return from a glorious trip that I enjoyed following.
Thank you Angie!
Oh, Susan, thank you for not being afraid to speak from your heart. I share your feelings. I have been so depressed since the election results were announced. I just can’t understand how someone who used inappropriate divisive language, encouraged bullying and disrespect, then made fun of people with disabilities was elected to the highest office in the land. I am a retired elementary school teacher who would have never accepted this type of behavior from my students. Something is very, very wrong.
Something is very very wrong. And no matter which candidate won, we would still have the problem I was writing about. Some girlfriends are happy with my post; some are angry. It’s sad, because we are ALL taking a long walk off short pier. We’re being used.
Thank you, My Dear Susan! My “thank you” is not necessarily about the topic you wrote about, but the fact you proved the REAL truth – we live in the United States of America – the GREATEST country – and we have a right to state how we feel, believe, see things, and the right to share that info with people who we feel SAFE with. Your thoughts were just that — your thoughts. You share the same thoughts that many of us feel and find it difficult to understand. I am 73 years old and am saddened by what we are currently going through in this country. My opinion matters – just as everyone else’s opinion matters – a good discussion is often warranted – but that takes guts. I am afraid many times during the day – not for me, but for my children and grand children and great-grand children. I was raised to respect ALL human beings. I was raised to be kind and understanding towards everyone. I was raised to understand that not everyone may believe the way I do, but respect is what kept us together. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY! We have always been the greatest country in all of the world! We all may have experienced hard times, but our faith and strength kept us going. My Dear Susan – YOU ARE THE BEST!! Thank you….
Yes! We can all believe what ever we want, but we don’t have to hate those who think differently, or believe that they are Un-American, or want babies to die, or are trying to end Christmas. Those are mean divisive words that are simply not true. Questioning the information we get can help. But that doesn’t mean we can’t disagree on who should be president! We can disagree and still be good people! Thank you Pat! I think it helps that we can remember when it wasn’t this way, and see how we got here. No matter who won the election, we are ALL being taken for a long walk off a short pier.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for your latest blog. My heart has been so heavy since the election, I am so worried for America and the World. I keep asking myself over and over, how did we get here as a nation? When did we lose our way? When did we stop caring for each other and become so hateful to each other? When did we forget the art of compromise? We have so much in common, yet we have elected a Congress and a President who are determined to divide and conquer us and tear the fabric of our nation apart. We’ve lost our middle ground, things were much better when everyone was willing to work for the common good for all, not just the wealthiest in the nation. Once upon a time we had a Congress that worked together so that all Americans received a great education, had good jobs, food on their tables, a roof over their head, affordable health care, and social programs for the poor. We all paid into Social Security so that everyone would have something to live on when they were old. More people were middle class than ever before. We cared about our Vets, we cared about each other. Everyone paid their share of taxes and it wasn’t all stacked in favor of the rich and corporations. When did we become a nation of haters, a nation where all we do is say awful things to anyone we disagree with? When did we stop talking to each other and stop listening to each other? When did we lose our manners and our civility towards one another? America is the home of the free, a place where people have always been welcome. We were built by immigrants. Every person in this Country is from an immigrant or slave family, except Native Americans and we should never forget that. Isn’t everyone worried about their children and grandchildren’s future? What are we teaching our future generations?
xoxo Susan. Have a safe journey home. Hope we all can find happiness again soon. Peace to our Nation. Love conquers hate.
All true Cindy, it wasn’t always like this, and the only way out is for us to see what they are doing to us. Because for sure THEY aren’t going to help us, we have to do it ourselves. Love conquers hate. Hate talk — good God, what kind of thing is that anyway?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I have been struggling too and your words helped. It must have been hard to risk sharing your feelings but I applaud your bravery. I pray that this country can some how heal.
Me too Debra.
Dearest Susan,
As you know, I have loved you from the first time I held your Autumn book in my hands, so many autumns ago. And now I love you even more, if that’s possible, because you have chosen to be authentic and honest, which is such a pure form of loving. What it love if it isn’t honest? So thank you for loving us all enough to be honest with us. I am really proud of you today, Sue.
There was such an awesome interview that Brenè Brown gave with Oprah. She asked her:
“What if your intention is: I want to live a brave life, and not disappoint anyone.”
To which Oprah said: “YOU CANNOT LIVE A BRAVE LIFE WITHOUT DISAPPOINTING SOME PEOPLE. But those people who get disappointed…it’s really OK. Because the people who really care for you, the people who are rooting for your rise, will not be disappointed. The only people who are disappointed are the people who have their own agenda. And their agenda is not aligned with your agenda. And that’s how I make myself brave. I say, ‘Well, the people who really care about you, who are rooting for your rise, they’re gonna be OK when you say NO.'”
Beautiful honest Sue, I am rooting for your rise, and I am here to tell you: You are living a BRAVE LIFE!! With all the love and pain that comes along with it!
All my love to you, I know it’s been a long time and I wish I would stop by more often, but know that you are Joe are always in my heart,
Dawn
Well first off, Hi Dawn. So very nice to hear from you!!! And yes, who could know more than Oprah about living a brave life! Thank you for your loving words . . . it means so much.
👏👏👏
Just a short note. I have been a fan of yours (from ‘neutral’ Belgium) for ages and read all your blogs, many books etc. But now I am utterly shocked by your choice using your beautiful blog to spit out all your political thoughts. This should not have been the media to tell the world your disagreement of the outcome of a democratic election. But it is your choice. I have withdrawn your blog from my blogroll and will no more follow any of your publications. Sad, so so sad.
If you saw how we are being torn apart in this country, you would speak out too. It’s a travesty. It’s hurting us, and I fear could lead to actual violence, it already has actually! This is ridiculous. It wasn’t always this way. We used to be able to compromise, but somehow that is a dirty word and we are completely, as a country, stopped in our tracks because of it, while our greedy corporate overlords walk away with the store. I’m sorry to lose you, but not saying anything would be a sin. It has nothing to do with the outcome of the election … no matter who won, we would still be in the same boat. Until we see we are being used. That words DO hurt us.
I dont believe Susan`s thoughts were political, they were humanitarian and if the brunt of the truth shed bad light on certain people then that needs thinking about.
And if we’re ALL taking a long ride off a short pier, then we want to notice it. There will never be change in this country until we do. Because they will continue on in their merry way, taking things away from us and giving it to each other, while we blame US, and they laugh at how stupid we are.
I would hope some of the comment-ers would try to hear that your words are NOT political….(I am sorry if I keep sending the same email but…..) Racism, misogyny, disrespect toward people who are disabled is toxic, NOT political, but what we need to fight to stay human, safe, and respectful citizens, friends, family, for our kids.
You made me emotional through much of that, such powerful truth. I am in the UK and it still moved me, I am so sorry that there is so much division when America was built by people working together. I am sad to say we face so many of the same problems here. Here`s to spreading the word, a little each day, to look a little closer, think a little longer and remembering we all have far more in common than they would have us believe. Right I`m off to put the kettle on. XX
BBC did a whole program the other morning about “fake news” ~ so it’s becoming a “thing” here and I think you are very lucky for it!
I listened to something on the Jeremy Vine show BBC radio 2 about, very informative….in a genuine way !
Yes, very helpful,and gives hope that people are starting to see how detrimental it is to democracy.
You speak from all of our hearts. We so need to come together as a nation for our children and grandchildren. The hatred in our country and the huge division is so sad. I pray we are all able to overcome it. I wish we didn’t have social media, it seems to be the main problem. Bless you Susan, I will continue to follow you and your stories, you are my soul sister! Hopefully this horrible hate-filled election will wake us all up and we can turn our country around!
Dear Susan:
Like you, I am thankful that we live in a country where we have the right to share our views and stand up for what we believe in. Thank you for loving our country. Thank you for the courage of your convictions. Thank you for being you. Those of us who follow you choose to live in the happy, but that doesn’t mean we are not thinking, aware, and serious people. Your thoughtful observations are so important to helping all of us move forward and to find a path through which we can fix what is broken. Our foremothers and forefathers understood that they had to be a part of the dialogue and be a part of the hard work that built our democracy. We owe it to them and to our future generations to stand up, share the burden, and build a future that looks like the America we know and love. Thanks for sounding the call to action. You are making a difference.
Thank YOU Vicki! It upsets me when I hear conservative radio telling it’s listeners that “libs” think they are stupid, unaware, and non serious.Because when people believe it, they get mad, quite rightly, and we are further divided. But it isn’t true. I LOVE my conservative friends, just as much as my lib friends. We need all of us to make this country work.
Well said. Thank you.
One more comment. Sort of off this subject, but not really. I am currently reading The Big Short by Michael Lewis. I wish I could say I understand now what happened in the housing market crash in late 2007, but Wall Street is one complicated conglomerate! What I do understand after this book is that SOMEONE should have gone to jail. But the powers that be….the money people never go to jail. And if anyone ever talks to me about privatizing social security I will require them to read this book. We could do so much in this country for so many, if we demanded it. Corporate America is selling us out. They open retail stores on Thanksgiving Day for Big Bargins….and Americans got up from their dinner table and went shopping! I promise you, if we don’t spend our $ with them….like EF Huton…they will listen. Now health care is another matter, we are stuck there until our elected representatives listen to us and not the money donors….not sure how we fix that one…..except to do what Susan says….follow the money!!
Again thank you for starting the conversation, we really all want the same things for our life, but everyone needs to dig a little deeper for the truth. Divide and conquer; it works every time!
They sure should have! I couldn’t agree more. Read Dark Money by Jane Meyer if you have time… whooooo. And yes, Social Security is not a gift being bestowed on us by our Government, it’s OUR money, it’s ALL our money, and I’m tired of it being spent on everything but US. Thank you so much Chris! Loved your input. I forgot about them opening on Thanksgiving! They have no shame!
I will read it!
Hey Chris! I’m in San Angelo. Small world
Really?! NO Way! I work at Mayfield Paper….come by and say HI!
I work at Natures Touch. Both local businesses. Come see me, too!
Well said, or written actually! Thank you for speaking your mind and heart! Let’s all stick together and be the example, the change we want to see! Thank you!
I love you Susan Branch! 💕
What does THAT mean…that my comment is waiting moderation?
It means that at this moment there are 708 comments “waiting moderation” which is what it’s called before I’ve read the comments. And yours is probably in there somewhere. I’m getting to them as fast as I can, I think I’ve already done 600 or so … but I’m also trying to pack and get out from the evil eye of my husband who is waiting for me to get on with it.
Susan, please, please don’t stop writing your blog because some girlfriends didn’t like you speaking about issues dear to your heart. I would be quite upset to see this happen. If some followers choose to leave that it their right. Don’t abandon those of us who still believe in magic. ❤️
Don’t worry Marge, I won’t. xoxo
I’ve followed your blogs for quite a while now ( I was late in discovering you) and bought your more recent books and never had left a comment till now. Thank you, thank you for writing this. We are Americans first, and hopefully all the divides will be healed so we can be one big family but it will take a long time. But it will take you and me to help them along in the only way we know how: to be neighborly.
That is my prayer. I see many angry people here. Most of the really angry ones just got the president they voted for, so in theory they should be happy. But the division is so great and so strong, many are still very upset. To me, that’s proof that we are being used to demonize the other, people we have so much in common with, good people, just like they are. Everyone wants a successful country.
Hello Susan,
I think that just about everything has been said regarding the state of our country and our election, but I just wanted to send you a little message of support. I know you don’t bring up many controversial subjects, so when you do, its something that you’re expressing from your heart. The subject of media/corporate/political control is so very important, and its doing so much damage, so I’m glad that you brought it up for discussion. At least we have the freedom to discuss it in our country, and hopefully, we can all start doing something to try and alleviate it. I hope you don’t decide to retire anytime soon! Bless you and Joe, and have a safe journey home!
Amen Susan..
Thank you, it had to have taken an enormous amount of time and thought .
Glad you are on your way home ! ( perhaps it’s time for a children’s book )
You would be fabulous at it ! 💗💗🇺🇸😍🐱
Lisa Risch Miller
The morning after the election, my 20-year-old daughter, a student at the University of Michigan texted these words to me: “Mommy, I’m so disappointed.”
That sentence was the words of the little girl who had been taught to be kind, respectful and inclusive and the young woman who now finds herself in a very confusing world. I struggled with what to say to her, and then I thought of all the good she is doing through her involvement in groups that support mental wellness, and I told her to keep trying to support her community, because if we all practice being kind, respectful and inclusive with the people we see every day, we CAN effect lasting change.
You have expressed the feelings of so many of us. I have great faith in the people of our country. I fear the media stirs up things more than it helps. Hang in there Susan. We will survive.
Thank you Susan. United for the goodwill towards all men, PEACE ON EARTH and our right to free speech. Praying the gap will close in this divided nation. One day at a time Sweet Jesus is what I am singing. God bless you and keep on doing what you are doing.
Off subject but wondering what “your comment is awaiting moderation” means? I posted a very simple response yesterday at 10:15 a.m. and it still says that line underneath my post. I thought it was because I used the names of two social media outlets but I see others included those names as well. Just curious. Praying that the Girlfriends are kind to you and each other!
Susan, All I can say is “thank you” from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t have said it all better myself. I always thought we were kindred spirits and now I am sure of it!
Susan, Thank you for writing such a well thought out piece on what so many of us have been thinking and dealing with in the last week. As one friend said it has been like going to a funeral. Hopefully this election will energize those individuals to realize if the country is to change you need to elect men and women in Congress who will do something not just block everything that the other party wants because they are the other party.
Susan when I first found your blog I enjoyed it because of the peace that I often felt when I read it. Now I feel a new kind of peace that there are women who feel as I do and are going to do their best to make sure that change will occur and that our children and grandchildren will be better off because of it.
Many blessings to you and Joe on this upcoming Thanksgiving. Thank you.
I am so sad and disappointed that you used your sweet “HEART OF THE HOME” blog to carry on in such a way. I come to your website to smile, to laugh, to be inspired and to have an opportunity to appreciate the simple, charming and beautiful things in life that we can all share and enjoy. I hope your blog continues to be just for that…