Day after the Election

SO disappointed. 

How could so many American voters make such a decision? 

How can that man have been elected to become president AGAIN? How could they vote for a man who is a pathological liar and says such hateful, divisive, misogynistic, rude, untrue and violent things? He has no plan for the country except revenge, hatred and retribution. And power for himself. He admires authoritarian leaders. He undermines public confidence in the pillars of American democracy - free press, impartial courts and democratic elections. Already on election evening, websites were prepared and up and running, undermining the election results. As soon as he was declared the winnner, these websites quickly disappeared. On that evening, as it looked like Pennsylvania might go to Kamala Harris, he announced "evidence of massive cheating in Pennsylvania!" When he won, no more word about "cheating". 

It's disgusting. Don't the voters care about what happened on January 6, 2021? Apparently most of them don't. Polls show that considerably more than half of Republicans, including LDS people in Utah, still believe "the election was stolen"! How is that possible? Even the bad man's biggest enablers such as Mitch McConnell and the last US attorney general announced there was no fraud and the election was legitimate. Judges (many appointed by him) in over sixty lawsuits said the same thing, and that these lawsuits were had no merit. The Dominion voting machine story was proven to be completely false and the perpetrators were handed huge fines. And so on.

This man has a following that accepts no proof of any wrongdoing, because they think he can do no wrong. It's a personality cult. 

His own former vice president did not endorse him this time. Should that not tell people something? Former generals, secretaries of state, and other highly respected officials who worked in his administration signed a public statement warning the country that a second term for this man would be very dangerous to the freedom, democracy and constitution of the country. 

We are on thin ice, people! 

I wanted to express myself here on my private blog. I am now going to sequester myself for a while and not listen or read the news, so I can find some peace. By coincidence, we had our monthly trip to the temple scheduled for yesterday, Wednesday, and it was the best place to be with the turmoil I was feeling, and having slept very poorly. I did find peace there, and I realized that there is a bigger picture.

I also realize that many of the people who voted for him, almost all the Kentuckians around us here, mean well, and they have sincere reasons for thinking and voting as they did. I have no bad feelings towards any of them. 

I am glad that John and I agree on this, and he is as incredulous as I am. He is more steady and less emotional, as usual, and I am thankful for that, too. Also glad that my sisters feel exactly as I do. Michaela feels lonely in this, since so many of her neighbors and church friends are in the other camp. 

"THE SWEET LUXURY OF TIME"

"How are the days going for you?", Michaela asked her sisters.

The responses give a nice synopsis of our days right now, and I want to preserve the memory.

RESPONSES TO THE ABOVE QUESTION FROM MICHAELA, URSULA and ME

 On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 12:08 AM Michaela Cottle <michaelacottle@gmail.com> wrote:

How are the days going for you?

The last few days I have more consciously realized the sweet luxury of time. Being able to work on something without worries of can I get it done? what has to be given up? how quickly can it be done? or when can I plan that in?

Days are full without doing anything earth shattering.

Sewing: has taken up considerable time lately, especially making things up as one proceeds requires more time, I find.

Apricots: picking, cleaning, sorting, preparing for drying racks, drying; and making apricot jam.

And eating apricots.

Cleaning up everything.

Cooking & cleaning up: today, for example, making crepes (KA and kids were coming over; everyone likes to eat); then made marble Gugelhupf for Branch pres. whose mother (94) died Friday (and delivered it). He’s perhaps more affected as he’s divorced and 2 kids are grown and have their own lives. Then helped Lucas prepare salmon & rice.

Two walks along the mtn.

School prep: had to get schedule and supply list off to assistant principal.

Grocery shopping with Madel: in this extreme heat and without a car, I feel it’s extra challenging for Madel to get groceries, so I try to help.

Some exercises. Very random. Am at 2min 6 sec plank; next goal is 2.30 minutes.

Have been I’m often surprised by how things fill the days.

Watched an understated movie (2024) last night you all may like, with Harry Connick Jr., Find Me Falling.

Thu 7/25/2024 3:49 PM

MC

Curious, isn’t it, how entrenched driving habits are and how difficult to change. And how irritating other people’s driving habits can be. And making one’s sentiments known does not seem to sway the needle. Does not even seem to register. Maybe three+ reckless driving tickets would help sway the trend? I gather there haven’t been any? You may need to elicit the aid of the police to set up strategic patrols on the projected route! Not sure that’s a thing, however. I am very sorry. That’s a difficult conflict. 

Your summer days sound enchanting; you will mot want them to end. Fortunately the summer is yet young. It’s satisfying that all the yard garden labor is paying off reaping the results of your labors with enjoyable days. 

I will save you some jam, Urs. I actually had to set a daily goal to stop eating 60+ apricots every day. It’s an addiction. I have not yet made it through a day apricots-free, however, I am controlling it by not eating any till about 7pm. 

Re retirement, I keep wondering if time would feel like such a luxury without the opposite, the rarity of time? One obviously can get used to it. Hélène, among others, always tells me how great it is not to have a work schedule. 

On Jul 25, 2024, at 8:08 AM, U Voss <urvoss@gmail.com> wrote:

You're getting into the swing of retirement! Not so hard to fill your days with fun things, "sweet luxury of time", it's fantastic. And I know what you mean re. sewing taking big amounts of time.

And the apricots! You're lucky. I used to adore Uli's apricot jam (in fact all those ladies, Frauke too, make delicious and aromatic Marillenmarmelade).

We've been having just a very enjoyable summer. The garden is really beautiful this year, we go to the Yacht Club for swimming and/or dinner, there have been many parties at the Egyptian people's houses (some of which we try to avoid, they're too often).

But in the last few days there has been tension between Nabil and me on account of his driving. He speeds and is reckless, making me tense and nervous, but sees absolutely nothing wrong with it. Aside from the fact that it's dangerous (although he's technically an excellent driver), he absolutely refuses to reflect on his driving behaviour. What's hard for me is that he refuses to reflect on that it's not logical - he speeds and passes everybody even though we're not in a rush. He gets angry and impatient, instead of relaxing a bit. Maybe it's just part of his "type A" personality, always being in control (he absolutely has to be the first passenger on the plane, he always thinks ahead, doesn't want to be caught by surprise). I guess I have to accept the fact that you can't change people, trying is like banging your head against the wall....

MC

Michaela Cottle<michaelacottle@gmail.com>

Thu 7/25/2024 8:24 PM

Urs attends Egyptian parties, sits in the garden, swims and eats at the Yacht club, and goes for irritating car outings ...  

Angie admires the new structure, picks ... (something) from the garden, muses on trip & wedding planning ... 

Please add and embellish what your days look like ☺️🦊  

AC

angelikacharles@gmail.com 

Fri 7/26/2024 9:58 AM

The sweet luxury of time. That comment struck Urs, and it struck me too! Very true.

And Mich does luxuriate in it especially because her regular days are super busy, so there is the contrast.

Contrast does tend to make one appreciate things more.

And apricots! I am so jealous. They are my favorite fruit. It's interesting that all three of us love apricots. Sadly, they don't grow here at all.

Urs's summer sounds luxurious and relaxed, wonderful and as a summer should be. I guess a 'yacht club' is like a country club, but instead of golf, there's boating?

It must be right on the St. Lawrence? Is the pool inside or outside?

Angie picks juicy blackberries from the fruitful vines of neighbors who are on vacation and asked that we look after their garden.

She muses on trip and wedding planning, communicates about timetables and plans, and tries on clothes at various stores including in Bowling Green.

Living in the country means shopping has to include driving , which she does not like to do (neither shopping nor driving). But it must be done, since her closet is now in very poor shape.

She does not like the current fashions, but did find a dress that will work, and some cute shorts and a blouse. 

And there is church work, preparing her Sunday school lesson for the teenagers in Sulphur Well ward, and ministering in T-ville, which is rewarding.

She is also reading quite a bit these days. This week it's "Finding Freedom" by Erin French. Fascinating account about cooking and healing by a woman who overcame terrible divorce, loss, addictions through her passion for cooking and her love for her child, and now has a famous little restaurant in her home village of Freedom, Maine.

SHE DID IT!!

 She did it! It was an uphill battle the whole way, but with all the courage and hard work and dedication she could muster, Celina kept going. She began to sound more and more like a doctor, and now she is one!

She often acknowledged that she received noticeable help from above, with a lot of fasting and prayer. Her path was guided and she knew it. She will be a wonderful doctor and will be able to do a lot of good in the world.

Three years of residency in family medicine and a lot more work and study are ahead, but this big milestone has been reached! Hurray! Congratulations, Dr. Charles! 

My father was a medical doctor, and it's touching to me that his granddaughter is now carrying on that professional tradition of science, healing and service. 

At the graduation, we all thought of her other grandpa as well, and how proud he would have been if he could have been there. He supported her and all her efforts so much.

Here she is with someone else who has always cheered her and the rest of us, on - 

 

 

 

Hazel!

Happy Birthday, Hazey! Seven years old today. I miss you so.

Another Idea

 Okay, I've changed my mind again. I think I would like to commemorate some family birthdays here, but only the grandchildren's. 

 After a lot of back and forth in my head, I've decided not to celebrate the birthdays here. It's just too hard to do justice to how special and dear and wonderful the birthday children, big and small, are. How can I express all that in a few words here? It's not possible. I feel the need to go on and on about each one, and show many pictures. My heart wants to explode in happiness and gratitude for our family today, as I remember that January day in Davis, California, when the world was new and we became the parents of our first little baby boy.

Our First Birthday of the Year

               Little Snuggle Bunny Ira is four years old today!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A new year is upon us! Thankful for the opportunity to live, to share, to grow.

This year, I plan to celebrate Happiness and Good Things in this space.

Our biggest happiness, of course, is our Faith and our Family. So I will mark each birthday with a little snippet, a picture, something from my journal, a memory or something that someone else said or wrote about the birthday person!

 I'd like to keep track of good things from 2020, so I jotted down a little list in my journal. There is more, too.

EXTRAORDINARY

 IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

If ever there was a year that needed Christmas, this is it. Hold onto the magic and share flurries of kindness wherever you can. Spread warmth and happiness with the whole street. Light up those around you. Let's make the most of the season - however we can!

from Winter 2020 Boden clothing catalog (Britain)

(Hey, right now I'm copying inspiration and beautiful sentiments from anywhere I can - and I like this.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today, 14 July, is an important family date: it is Ursula Franziska's Birthday! 

In a family of good-looking children, she stood out as a beauty. And she had the grace and elegance to match. When she was very small, just four or so, Mom delighted in telling friends how, on a walk up to the Freinberg with the children recently, little Ursi had said to her, "Mama, you need to push the baby carriage holding your hands like this", demonstrating, "it looks more elegant!"

Of course she became our elegant Aunt Trude's favorite, and it was fine with us.

She should have been a princess, and Mom tried, but she was the middle child in a family that sometimes lacked even basics. It was a situation that was truly not fair, but Ursi shone anyway, and blazed  her own trail. 

Based in Lucerne in recent years, she became, as John said, "the Woess Family Goodwill Ambassador", (re)establishing and strengthening contacts with long-lost cousins and other dear relatives near and far. Thank you, Urs, for being a kind and generous sister, aunt and friend.

Happy, Happy Birthday to you!  You're Queen for the Day! No, let's make it A Week! Or how about A Month?

Letter

It was a beautiful, mild June. I remember it well. This letter captures the mood of the time.

John Charles, age twenty-two, was on his way home from his mission and briefly touring in Europe with some BYU students he had met in his last mission area, Salzburg. (This was permitted at the time.)
Add scanned letter

Hello, 2020!

Our new bishop, Don Cooper, remarked last Sunday that while in the previous century the 20's were known as 'The Roaring Twenties', how about making the 20s in this century 'The Joyous Twenties'? Yes, I like that! 

When this decade is over, I will be 81 years old. John will be 85. Yikes! Crazy. -

The past decade has brought us much joy and happiness: a very dear new daughter-in-law; darling grandchildren who bring so much light, love and hope with them; kind and faithful friends and siblings and adult children and daughters-in-law; there have been wonderful successes and progress and heart-warming opportunities to serve and help, too.

The decade also brought me some unwelcome surprises and much sadness and a broken heart. But I have grown and gained understanding and I'm feeling better now.

Good-bye, 2019!

2019 in one sentence:
'We were very busy with new, full-time jobs (real estate), family, church, farm."

Me, I'm trying to make sense of it all, with my heart spread out from the western US states to Kentucky to Switzerland and now to Russia.
John and I can hardly believe all the positive changes and good fortune that have come our way in this year.
Feeling very thankful.

Quotable Quote

Quotable quote from our second-year medical student in Bowling Green (who just completed the unit on Nephrology):
"The Kidneys Are AMAZING!!"
"A kidney is smarter than any computer!"
"All of the blood in the entire body goes through your kidneys THIRTY TIMES a day."

On Reading

A couple of years ago in Bardstown, Celina brought this book home from the library   [photo of book cover]

It's a collection of photos taken by famous photographer Steven McCurry, over many years in various places all around the world. The backgrounds are fascinating and unique. The only aspect that every picture has in common is that it shows a person or people engaged in the activity of reading: The pleasure, the concentration, the loveliness and joy of reading.

It's no secret I love books and reading, and I enjoy photos, too. I can't stop looking at this book.

I felt inspired at the time to gather some of our own photos "On Reading".

Find the folder with the pictures in it.

Journal Entry

Since it's September again, my baptism month, I thought I'd copy something from my journal of last December that expresses a little bit about my feelings of gratitude. It was our fiftieth anniversary, and in my mind I was remembering and thinking of the joys and challenges, miracles and blessings over the years. When we got married, we were both young and immature and we were very unprepared for marriage and parenthood and adulthood. Of course I was happy, and my heart was in the right place, but I was extremely naive and inexperienced.
 Here's a small part of what I wrote in my journal on December 21, 2018:

"How thankful I am for the gospel plan and teachings! The faith and understanding I was able to develop as time went by, anchored and rescued me. The messages from the prophets in Conference and elsewhere, wonderful Improvement Era and Ensign articles and others, Know-Your-Religion talks, Education Week lectures, Relief Society lessons, messages in hymns, great examples from wise and spiritual women and teachers, as well as personal answers to prayers, and much help and comfort from above - all helped me gain a bit of perspective, understanding, wisdom and experience that nobody helped me with as I was growing up. Mom and us kids [sic] were quite an isolated little unit. Her parents were dead, and Dad's parents had contact with Dad, but practically none with us.
Back to what I learned through the gospel teachings - it's mainly about P r i o r i t i e s. I'm so grateful that the church and gospel taught me to place my priorities in the right place - family and faith, basically. So thankful for that. The babies were my greatest joy and treasure on earth. So thankful I made them and the marriage my first priority [and for many years, about my only focus], along w/ church and family service. And I tried to make our happy, creative home 'a house of fasting, a place of prayer, a house of order' etc."
 ....  "But again, the gospel teachings and Spirit rescued us. How often I used to pray for Heavenly Father to show or tell John something I wanted him to know or understand (in our early married years), and it was almost uncanny how quickly it worked. Because back then he (sometimes) didn't really listen when I tried to tell him something." - End of journal entry.

PS I remember well how I would sometimes pray that the Lord would tell him, and then within days he would say something like, 'you know, I have the feeling that we could/should do this or this.' It's easy to imagine how comforted and secure it made me feel to know the Lord was aware of us and helping us, and also that John was prayerful and obedient to the promptings he was receiving, and trying to do his best.