I can’t even imagine how you feel at the moment. I don’t want to, and people tell me to look away from the current situation. I’ve decided to step back, but I still know it’s important to be aware.
What feelings should I be feeling? I think I’m sort of relating to your very sad great-granddaughter-in-law. I don’t know what to do about it.
How should I be reacting?
Love from a descendant and another Sarah
Dear Sarah,
It’s me again. I researched you more and was wondering if you could also give me some business tips?
You seemed to constantly be hosting all kinds of guests—and under stress! I know we are the type that can laugh at things, but you seemed to master controlling a lot of feelings.
I wish you were alive to host a podcast.
Thanks and love from the 21st century.
Hi, Sarah!
You would probably never want to meet me. You’re also a Sarah I’d like to interview. I’m afraid you’d walk out of the room if I asked certain questions.
I think you’re very cool and though it sounds like you like to party, you would be very valuable in understanding issues from the past. If I were to get a correspondence, no celebs or cameras would be present.
Best wishes for you future, whatever that may be.
Respectfully from another Sarah
To Sarah:
Lots of world events have occurred since I last wrote about you. I’ve also gone through many changes; I’ve seen people step up and take matters into their own hands, similar to you.
The people I’ve seen have actual talent, but I know it’s okay to ask. I’m too afraid to write any requests though. Come to think about it, I’m more afraid to send it off. But why should I be anyway? Afterall, I have been asking lots of questions to others. Many never get back to me.
I wanted to ask you about who exactly I should ask for help on my projects. Your letters made a difference. People give lots of thanks thanks to you!
From,
Sarah
To Sarah:
Did you ever have a fall break? How did you spend it? If you were here today, how would you enjoy your short time off?
So sorry I didn’t post on March 8. It would have been perfect, of course. I wasn’t in any rush though.
I’m thankfully not in with the feminist lot, but hopefully you can see I am all for girl power. That’s why I wrote about how peculiar some old, respectable candy companies have now become, and how quiet protesters are more powerful than they’re given credit.
I decided to include some poems I wrote at the chiropractor’s office, too. It’s a place where I try to feel physically empowered. And as tribute to the hard core suffragettes who apparently really loved pants, I also wanted to showcase my yoga pants poem.
I was thinking of Elizabeth Barrett Browning last night. It’s probably because as she got older as a single maid, she got more ill, but she managed to go on with her work and eventually found true love. I wrote her a note last night/this morning. I decided just to do a little research and read she was born March 6!
So of course, I’ll have to include that birthday note to her!
I still can’t believe it! I was writing today thinking I should post my note, and I was determined after I discovered it was Mrs. Browning’s birthday!
Letter
EBB~
Elizabeth Barrett Browning-I keep you in mind as I age. Maybe when I’m 40, I’ll be married, but if not, what can I do? I’m not married yet or have your talent, and so it’s depressing. You had a lot going for you, but I bet it was hard. I have spinal and head problems myself. Perhaps I’m…of what was I going to say? No, I won’t ever know your genius or exact pain, but somehow you give me inspiration and my heart reaches out to you because you triumphed when it came to love. No one ever could have predicted what you ended up doing–eloping with such a seemingly eccentric poet. Maybe your husband eloping with someone–but not you! It’s cool that he took a chance on a 35-plus-year-old woman.
Birthday wishes,
~A 35+ woman
P.S. Upon further research, I’ve discovered just how much you fought for causes with all you had. So it’s not surprising that when you found the one, you went for it.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her husband, Robert Browning
Further Thoughts
I noticed I lost my thoughts in the middle of the letter. I really might be getting senile.
Anyway, I don’t have enough thoughts presently to even write a poem, but hopefully Elizabeth Barrett Browning would think this post is good enough.
Happy birthday, Mrs. Browning!
Images
Birthday cake image from pixabay.com, public domain.
Photograph of EBB and Robert Browning, public domain.
Engraving EBB, engraved by Thomas Oldhan Brown, public domain.
After President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, was announced, of course there was panic. Would this nominee qualify for the Supreme Court? Who was she?
I did some research and found the ACB was fantastic in whatever she did. She was currently serving as a circuit judge, and what stood out to many was that she’s a mother of seven.
Would the Confirmation Hearings Be Hell?
Before the confirmation hearings I was in a panic because I wondered how the Senate would treat her. Would the same senators who trashed Justice Kavanaugh also put her through hell? Looking at the picture of her walking beside President Trump and her family following, she looked confident. I was still anxious about what her treatment would be.
In her opening remarks at the confirmation hearing she gave a quick lesson that as a judge she was there to interpret the law. She paid tribute to some women that had been on the Supreme Court, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whom she called a trail blazer.
As the hearings moved along, it soon became clear that ACB was focused and confident in her answers. No one will ever forget the moment she held up a blank notepad after being asked to show her notes.
Amy Coney Barrett also shined as a teacher. Multiple judges have taught law at a university level like her. The world caught glimpses of her past teaching experiences as well as witnessing her teach lessons to the Senate.
Teachers and Mentors
Amy Coney Barrett is a Notre Dame Law School alum and took part a conversation hosted by the school. (See “A conversation with Judge Amy Coney Barrett…” video for full conversation). She said one reason she had chosen to attend Notre Dame was because she hoped she’d be motivated by others to become a better person. She went on to become a professor, judge, and boss, and carried that same hope for her clerks and hoped they would have positive experiences.
Barrett stressed the importance of having good mentors. She raved about an English professor that had taken time out to encourage her. Barrett concluded that mentoring is:
“Taking the time to reach out to someone.”
ACB has striven to be a good mentor herself. She said:
“I’ve long had a responsibility as a teacher to be a mentor.”
Keep in mind this conversation was posted August 2019. A little more than a year later (during her confirmation hearing), one of her past students gave an example that showed the type of mentor Amy Coney Barrett had been from her personal experience:
Getting Questioned
My worry about certain senators attacking her came true. Whether it was sneaky or obvious, she heard them out. Man, was she patient! She didn’t react as they spouted off their narratives. One time when Senator (and VP candidate) Kamala Harris questioned and she started to answer, Harris said, “Let me finish if you don’t mind.” When Barrett said, “Oh, I’m so sorry,” that was really nice and powerful. When given the opportunity, she answered the questions with conviction.
I still don’t know how Barrett could be so poised and essentially remind senators she was there to evaluate the law and not make it. (I recommend anyone who’s wondering the roles of government branches to go to United States’ government website and read about the three branches here.)
After Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, she again reminded that she there to help interpret the law.
“If I were teaching a course with an introduction to the concept of the separation of powers, I would begin with this speech. Articulate, crystal clear and consequential.” She included the following video:
The Future Is Actually Bright
Who knows what the upcoming days will be like, but if the world has understanding teachers (not necessarily professional), the future is bright.
Amy Coney Barrett is a great teacher/mentor. This last month, we witnessed her teaching the senate. She was teaching when she listened to questions. Her concise answers were great lessons in manners and how to express yourself appropriately. In her remarks at the swearing-in ceremony, she demonstrated the importance of reviewing concepts for those still learning.
She inspires me to be a better teacher and student.
The elder married a queen in the making. The other married mistress material.
Their great-great-great…great grandpa, Charles II, wouldn’t have missed the irony. What is he thinking now?
Charles married a woman named Catherine. The elder brother married a woman named Catherine. I think that would have pleased Charles II’s queen.
Among Charles II girlfriends was an actress. The younger brother married an actress. Are Charles’ mistresses doing a victory dance? Only time will tell on that one, I’m afraid.
How much family/secular history do the brothers know? Did anyone see the coincidence when an actress married into the royal family? Come on, princes, you should have made some connection.
I just really, really know what everyone mentioned knows and feels!
The daughter of my adopted grandma was listening to the radio as she drove back from the airport. She turned right around as soon as she heard about terrorist activity and picked up her mom and aunt. The girl trip was delayed a week or so.
My friend had one of the worse birthdays ever because everyone came to school sad.
Rearrangements and changes were made on the Madonna tour. One concert’s proceeds went to the 9/11 relief efforts.
My family worried about my brother who was serving his mission at the time in New England. My dad remembers it was around three weeks before we received a letter from him. (Snail mail was the key way missionaries would contact their families weekly—quite different now!) It makes sense that the mail was checked thoroughly though. A few months later, the wife of his mission president told my parents that nearly immediately after, people were attending church. Unfortunately, as time went on, church attendance decreased.
On May 2, 2011, United States Navy SEALS shot bin Laden’s in his compound is Pakistan. It was glorious news.
Terrorism still continues, and sadly, some U.S. government officials and media outlets are removing the blame from those responsible.
However, there are still proud Americans who won’t forget. I never will. I also want to take time to thank America’s military for their service. Words can’t express my gratitude.
And to those who have their birthdays in September, you are very special. You are a symbol of hope and life.
Let us all seek peace but be ready to defend ourselves against evil.
The first thing I remember about that day was wrapping up family scripture study before 6 AM. We prayed and less than forty-five minutes later, I was at the church building for early morning seminary. I remember the bishops walking through the halls. I had no idea what was happening. The seminary teacher told us about the planes striking the tower. The rest of the class seem to get it, but I admit I didn’t even know what towers they were talking about. I never heard of the World Trade Center before.
At school, the TVs were on all day. I don’t remember as much cover about the attack on the Pentagon or the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. I would find out more that day (and of course years to follow.) There was an assembly that day. It had been planned in advance with a great motivational speaker. He included what the nation was facing and was sensitive to the day’s events.
The Young Women’s activity that night was volleyball in the backyard of a leader’s house. When my dad picked me up, he was listening to the radio, and it was the first time I heard of Osama bin Laden. My dad said, “This is who they think did it.”
And of course it was. I learned so much about the evil organizations that year. I was sheltered naturally, but I think a lot of people were learning too. No matter what you think of him, President Bush did inspire me with the confidence that we would get bin Laden.
I am so grateful for the 9/11 heroes and those that are protecting the United States. I pray today we will be safe.
Eighteen years ago. Monday night. I think I was wearing my pink flowered shirt from the GAP. Or maybe it was the blue polo one. Life was so-so to me. My family spent home evening at our adopted grandma’s house. Her sister had been visiting for quite sometime, and they were both giddy because they were flying out to the Midwest the next morning. My adopted grandma’s daughter was to drive them to the airport.
My cousin was planning to see Madonna in concert later in the month. My friend’s birthday was Wednesday. I knew many people who had plans. While the world turned off their lights and went to bed Monday night, not too many knew there others that had very big and beyond terrible plans.
I went to bed naïve. I had no clue people could be as evil as I was soon to discover. I also didn’t know that there would be many heroes who would fight for America and do whatever they could to save innocent lives.
The typical child does not have enough resources to live on their own. The professional athlete on TV can have millions. It’s interesting that some athletes (you know who you are) with all their money can’t show a small tribute to the their country while children with nothing can afford to give attention to words that make the America so wonderful.
I’m not totally sure why some Americans refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance and also dismiss our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. Maybe they can’t remember the words. So let’s go over some of the basics.
The Pledge of Allegiance
[stand and place your right hand over your heart]
I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
The Star-Spangled Banner [stand and place your right hand over your heart]
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
I was fortunate to go to public schools that said the Pledge of Allegiance every day. One school I worked at not only said the Pledge daily, but also sang The Star-Spangled Banner. I would get a little teary-eyed.
I suggest to anyone who has issues with the Pledge of Allegiance and The Star-Spangled Banner to review the words. We shall go over their backgrounds in a future post, but let’s just say that America has survived hard times thanks to God’s help and the brave men and women who fought for the United States of America.
I usually don’t write about this sort of thing, but some of your recent comments and actions haven’t sat well with me.
I know you want two children max due to climate change—but I say hogwash. Do you think, Your Highnesses, that you’re preventing less damage by having less children? Actually less damage can occur if there are more people. Of course, you have to love people. People hold more value than things.
I’m not saying you should continue to have kids. That’s a spiritual and personal matter between yourselves and the Lord. What I am saying is that it’s important to realize the worth of individuals and be more welcoming to others who come to earth—and those who should be closest to you.
I also want to quote the psalm: “Children are a heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3).
Whatever you chose, Your Highnesses, I hope you’ll be able to see the importance of families—especially your present families. Our loved ones are far more important than expensive trips and glamour.
