Some days are heavy. Today is the 10th anniversary of the shootings of the people at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston. Good, Christian, African American folks were gunned down by a white supremest who walked into their Bible Study class. This young shooter had hate and rage in his heart. We will never know why.

Just three days ago, early this past Saturday morning, a man dressed up to look like a cop knocked on Wisconsin state representatives’ doors. When the doors were opened he shot and murdered two, and significantly wounded two others. This man also had hate in his heart. And rage. He acted out and used firearms. We may never know why.

Between these two horrible events, in SC and in Wisconsin, there have been many, many, many mass shootings in our country. Jon Stewart listed some of them on the Daily Show last night. Hearing them said one after another was gut wrenching. There have been mass killings in schools, businesses, night clubs, at concerts, grocery stores, churches, in homes, and out in the streets.

Saturday’s tragedy was the latest – but here in America we can say with certainty that it will not be the last.

Our country is divided on just about everything these days, including the ways to deal with mass murders. It really is unbelievable to me that we cannot even agree that people who use guns (the overwhelming weapon of choice) get them too easily, and most have given clues to what they plan on doing. Yet very little has been done to tighten our gun laws, to create safer situations, to offer mental health care, to protect the innocent.

I heard a politician on TV this morning speak about the need to make this a non-partisan issue. Because he said even this is political and it has to stop. He said that even identifying killers has become a blame game. People taking sides.

But, some things – like this – ARE partisan and are political. And while our leaders push back on everything, and won’t work together, more people continue to die. Statistics mean something. And, statistics show that most mass shootings are done by men. Most are white. Most are ultra-conservative. Most have had ideology and idolatry for things they have seen in media. Most have had mental and emotional instability.

So, here we are again with the horrendous shooting deaths of wonderful people, civil servants, and interestingly enough, people who have gone on record saying that more needs to be done to stop gun tragedies. Victims of it themselves. Their names are added to the long list.

So, it’s a heavy day today – again.

It’s heavy because the pain is real, and the rhetoric has kicked in again, only to know it will settle down (again) in a few days.

There are endless reasons to be upset with our government (so many reasons that were created by Trump – and that’s for another day) but the violence of mass shootings has been an American problem for way too long. Democrats in Congress have sincerely tried over and over to change laws, to create better databases, to add gun safety features, to restrict types of guns, to fight lobbies to, and to increase mental health care. (Seriously. Shouldn’t mental health be free and available to everyone?)

We have an administration now that is cutting funding on so much. Slicing away needed money for important causes. While doing it they are hiding their heads in the sand. Congressional Republicans won’t take responsibility for what is happening, even though they have turned down important legislation over and over. Our president is such a toddler he won’t even call the Wisconsin governor to express dismay and sympathy about the mass shootings. Oh, yes, it is political. There is no doubt.

That is why I have said it before, and continue to vow, that I will only vote for candidates who really do want to make the effort to stop the incredible epidemic that we have here of mass shootings in our country.

I draw the line on that. And it is an easy line to draw.

I watched a video on Instagram this morning with a woman telling her teenage son that this time in our country is not normal. Think about it. Any teenager in America right now has grown up seeing Trump on TV, running for office, or in the office, pretty much all their life.

Could they think that this is normal politics?

Well – this is NOT normal. It will never be normal.

It is not a proud moment in American history. One day, when the teenagers are all grown up, we will look back on this time and shake our heads that we allowed a convicted felon, a womanizer, a bully, and a narcissist, run our country. A man who used social media to bully people and to hit back on anything he did not like. This man who has no filter, no ability to hold back, and no focus. No respect for others. Republicans in office will be gone (my hope) and more sane, and truth telling, and reasonable leadership will be in office.

Hopefully, by the time we are looking back, we will have corrected all the mess that was created. Am I wearing my rose colored glasses again?

I just don’t think I can comprehend how this can all go on. Yet, I know that without a Congressional majority vote we cannot get rid of a president. So, we have years more to go…. And I cannot even imagine how crazy things may get in our country. (As a Christian I do not want him to be killed…. Or to die, but a natural passing would be okay with me. Sorry. Not sorry.)

I mean I did not think we would have masked, armed, ICE agents raiding businesses and homes. I did not think people would be sent out of our country to foreign prisons without due process. I did not think banks could be bullied. Law firms bullied. Threatened.

I did not think our Supreme Court would put the president above other citizens. That dangerous Proud Boys and others would just be released from prison without care. Other criminals who defrauded people of millions released.

I did not think Congress would turn in to scaredy cats, willing to overlook integrity for money. (Ok. Maybe they have been doing that for a long time! Ha. Can you say ‘lobby’?)

But – None of this is normal. Much of it is illegal.

I think of the teenagers today – and wonder, will any of them ever think that going into politics, and working for our government, is honorable? Is respectful?? I doubt it. Look at what they see now.

What will happen to our nation with 4 years of this madness? Where will we be?

HOW can it go on???

How can we get back to ‘normal’ politics with a working democracy? With truly free honest elections? With leaders who want to help Americans instead of showing off with power?

Is this the NEW NORMAL???

I posted about this a few times already on Facebook. Gay rights. Gay acceptance. LGBT and maybe a couple of other letters. I fully believe that who a person is sexually starts before birth. It’s in the DNA. As Madonna sings a person is “born this way.” Or that way. Or, whatever! It is impossible to change the innate chemistry and makeup, and nobody should have to do it.

But, seeing all the upheaval in the news about Tim McGraw’s daughter Gracie, has me wanting to write a “Marla’s Musings” about it. So, here goes.

First, she did not just come out. Gracie has openly expressed her sexuality on Instagram (and perhaps other social media) for as long as I can remember. She is a free spirit, expressive, talented, young woman and she posts candidly about her life. She is an adult. I applaud the ease that she seems to show in being who she is. I know she has a great support system.

Living in 2025 I think we have certainly learned more from science, and we have learned more from the gay community themselves speaking out. With openness should come a better education. And, also acceptance. By the way, they have always been here, as a part of humanity, but they are finding courage to let us know now.

But, STILL, yes, there is still a VERY closed minded group that continues to be judgmental. I saw a lot of it in the comments on Gracie McGraw’s Instagram page. It was horrific what was written. Painful. I hurt for her just reading it. I can only imagine how frightening it was for her to read what strangers put on her page.

Gracie is the latest example of extreme and vocal homophobia. I doubt that there is any gay person alive who has not experienced something mean said to them, or experienced a condescending look – from people who for some reason think they have the right to give their opinion and don’t hold back. These people think they are better, or normal, or doing God’s work. Ugh

Well, let me tell you…

Doing God’s work means to love everyone. Everyone!!! God is pretty fanatical about that. You can find it all over the Bible. And, to tell you the truth, I think it is much harder to love that mean person, or someone who constantly lies, who is pompous, and acts better than others. I know I should love them too, but, boy, it is definitely tough. Yet, God tells me that even those people, the ones who cause the pain, are His.

I have had people in my life who have been secretly gay (I’m pretty sure), some who are ‘out’ and living their best life, and then those who can’t let them be – and they even call themselves Christians. In fact, it is often those who believe they are religious who like to say being gay is a sin. Oh, they sure do! These same people are heterosexuals who can’t get past others having relations with same sex partners. “It was not what God intended.” “Procreation requires a male and female.” “Our bodies weren’t made that way.” You have heard it. I don’t believe it is a sin. Love is not sinful. God is love. So…

It’s time to get over it!!

It is time to work on YOU if you have an issue with the gay community. Because, really, they just want to live side by side with you, in this world, loving another person, and having a family. They DO NOT want to make your children gay – and really, they can’t. They do not want to change people. They want all the same rights. They SHOULD have all the same rights!!

So…. It is time to reach out, to learn, to allow yourself a new way of thinking.

Because, they are not the problem. You are.

Since this is June – and it is Gay Pride month: Stop being judgmental. Celebrate it with them!

🌈 ❤️

Both of my daughters were born in the month of June. 🎉 In fact, their birthdays are just 12 days apart. Today is Lauren’s. The 15th is Kristen’s.

When I think of them both I still think of them as being about the age of 22 or so. College aged maybe, or just starting out. I remember those days just like they were yesterday. Weren’t they?? 🤔 And to me, they look exactly the same as they did back then.

I’m not sure where the last 15 years went. (Okay, you can now guess their ages today! Ha). But both went on to graduate school and got their degrees, both found wonderful men to love and marry, and both gave me two beautiful grandchildren each!! So, it has been a busy span of years! They are years I am so grateful for…. Ones that have brought us all many good times, laughs, and very few disappointments and sadness.

Birthdays are always celebrations – and having grandchildren makes it even more meaningful. Children love to sing “Happy Birthday” and have some cake. 🎂 They get excited about presents and turning a new year!

Just this past weekend I talked with my 4 year old granddaughter about how old she will be next year when she starts kindergarten, and how old her big cousins will be too. She hasn’t quite gotten the idea that as she gets older they do too. (Mimi does too! 😬 ) She told her Mama and me that she didn’t want to grow up too fast. And I hope she doesn’t!! She is at such a precious age right now!

June birthdays are good because they are halfway to Christmas, and in the middle of the calendar year. 🗓️ Often school is already out. The weather is warm, and I remember having a few outdoor parties for my girls. One was Barney themed. We also did a joint party at McDonald’s one year. Then the sleepover birthdays started and I admit that I was never much of a fan of them. Noisy girls giggling late into the night, sleeping on the floor and watching scary movies together. I never got much sleep and was happy when the parents came to pick the girls up mid-morning (and they better not be late!!)

Now my June-born daughters get to have the same experiences with their own children. Kristen’s girls are both March birthdays (only 8 days apart) and Lauren’s twins are obviously both the same day at the end of October. Combined parties are awesome for as long as a parent can do it!

With the passing of each and every birthday there is a milestone to celebrate. 🎉 Growing, and learning, and becoming more independent with each year. Then maturing and thinking more deeply. Widening perspectives (hopefully) and meeting new people. Growing more. Traveling. And, appreciating each birthday that comes along. Because… each birthday is a celebration!!

I know I have appreciated them all. I know I am different with each passing one. I have seen my daughters follow the path too. (But I still somehow think they are 22! Ha). And, now we get to watch their children starting out on that same path. ❤️

Happy birthday Lauren and Kristen!!

🎂 🎈 🍷 🍨 🎉 😊 💗

Okay, today’s title is the name of an awesome movie (La La Land) and if you haven’t see it, go and watch, enjoy it, and dance!!

But, the la la land I am speaking of today is the kind we knew about when we were younger, when somebody wasn’t listening… we would say that they were off in ‘La la land.’ Remember?

In fact, if the person was not listening to what they should be listening to, they were instead thinking about something else, maybe dreaming, maybe tuning out what was happening right in front of them.

Just today I encountered two people living in that kind of La La Land. They seem to be happy there, but they are living in an altered state, one not based on reality. They are not getting the whole picture and I believe they don’t want to see it – the whole thing: the good, the bad, the ugly. The way it really is.

Our president spoke and acted like a complete moron yesterday when he was in the Oval Office sitting with the president of South Africa. I watched. I listened. I took it in as he was saying horrible things, and berating a person. He acted like a spoiled child and a bully. It was really terrible to watch. And, oh, as we know, this is not his first time…. In fact, hundreds of times he has been very obnoxious so yesterday he was not ‘out of character’ but, still, it was hard to watch. I cringed. I felt bad for the reporter, Peter Alexander, who was getting the brunt of the rant. (Although I imagine it might now be a silent badge of honor with the press corps to be singled out for pushing back and asking a tough question.) I also felt bad for the African president who sat there, watched Trump explode, and then he had to carry on like it was not unusual to see this behavior by a world leader.

But it is.

My two friends who seem to be unfazed by what happened yesterday (and the countless times before)…. Well, they must just be living in La La Land. That’s all I can figure. That’s how I justify it. Maybe they do not want to face the fact that we have such a horrible leader because they voted for him. Maybe they are choosing to not watch him on TV, because he is REALLY hard to watch!! I can attest to that. Maybe they are choosing to ‘stand by their man’ and tune out everything else. They are ‘all in’ to the point of total loss of reality and credibility.

But – La La Land is an excuse for not dealing with reality. La La land doesn’t exist. Because, to know reality is to know that Trump has not come through on what they want from him…. The border wall (the Mexicans will pay for it), tougher laws on immigrants (to get rid of all those murderers and rapists everywhere), weeding out fraud (that is stealing their money, usually lazy people), saving money in the federal system (by firing hard working Americans), and lowering taxes (because taxes are bad.) Yes, I know it is early on in his term and he has plenty of time. Don’t remind me. I take it day by day at this point because it seems even going one day at a time is challenging. (What will HE do today?!?! )

He and his ‘merry men’ have icy hearts and large egos. They are self-righteous and care nothing for the rule of law. In fact they have an opinion of themselves that they do NOT have to follows laws. They threaten others and boast about it. They make up lies and spit them out without remorse. They are callous, hurtful, and money hungry.

It is obvious.

Unless you live in La La Land.

Yesterday I watched a video of Bruce Springsteen at his first concert date on a tour he is starting right now. The man is 75 years old! Really! Watching him I could not believe how he was still out there, doing his thing, singing the amazing songs of poetry he wrote throughout his over 50 year career.

I happened to see the video because he spent some time during the concert talking to the Manchester, England crowd about all the horrible and crazy things happening in our country right now. And I thought… what better man to do it! He was born and raised in New Jersey and even wrote a very successful album called “Born in the USA.” Bruce has always written about life growing up in America. If you have not seen the video from the concert you can YouTube it, and I suggest you do.

It got me thinking last night as I was laying in bed that I first saw Bruce Springsteen my junior year at Towson State University in 1978. His first album, “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ” came out in 1973, “Born to Run” came out in 1975. He was hitting his stride. He sold out the Towson Center. He was pretty amazing!! His E Street band, consisting of Max Weinberg, Steven Van Zandt, and Big Clarence Clemons on sax, were electric and exciting.

And, as I laid in bed last night, I thought about how fortunate I was to graduate from Towson State, and immediately get a job with WBAL Radio, and then 98 ROCK.

It was the early 80’s and messy hair glam rock was huge. Bands from the 70’s were still rocking. It was a hey day for some metal music, and little ‘ole me had become the Promotions Manager for 98 ROCK. Part of my job was representing the radio station out in public, scheduling announcer appearances, and giving away concert tickets and albums. So, I went to a lot of rock and roll shows!! A lot.

I told myself last night I better write them down because time is getting away from me, and those were some incredible times I experienced.

So, in no particular order (except when it popped into my head), here are bands I met and/or saw perform:

The Rolling Stones

The WHO

Hall & Oates

Billy Squier

Elton John

AC/DC

Triumph

Jackson Browne

Golden Earring

Joan Jett

Boz Scaggs

Asia

Robert Palmer

Foreigner

The Moody Blues

Journey

Styx

Heart

The Police

Def Leppard

Iron Maiden

Rush

Genesis

Lover boy

The Doobie Brothers

I know I am missing some, and the list doesn’t include a few artists I saw that were not work-related. Personally, I was not a heavy metal fan, and I preferred more country rock and folk music. I saw the Eagles, Dan Fogelberg, Annie Lennox, Olivia Newton John, Rick Springfield, and a few others because I could – I had connections.

Our radio station was on “Television Hill” in Baltimore where two TV stations had their studios, along with WBAL AM. I remember one day the 4 members of KISS came up – without their face makeup on!! And Ozzy Osbourne came in for a studio interview. His wife Sharon sat in the empty office next to mine while Ozzy talked with the on-air announcer.

My position was exciting but very time consuming. Obviously, it was not a 9 to 5 job, and I really was promoting the radio station all the time. I even drove the 98 ROCK van home after nighttime events. It was a young person’s job. Tiring. But like I said, every single day I never knew who I might meet or see perform.

I loved all the people I worked with too, and some are still my friends today. We don’t see each other often but we ‘lived through’ that 80’s rock and roll together!! It was an exciting moment in time.

So, when I think about “BRUCE” (the Boss) still out there at 75 on the road, touring, singing his songs…. It is very impressive.

Side note…

I have a real love for concerts. I always have. There is something in the air at a live show that you experience with the artists and the crowd. There is a beautiful connection that happens. Music brings people together. You feel like family for a little bit.

I tend to go to country music concerts now to get that feeling. They are generally safe, and warm, and the crowd is made up of people who love to mutually experience it. They sing all the lyrics! I could make a whole other list of the all the live country music concerts I have been lucky to attend. Maybe someday I will do that too. Ha.

Full circle thought: Country artist Eric Church wrote and had a hit with a song called “Springsteen” honoring Bruce Springsteen, and remembering where he was….

When he was 17. “I think about my old Jeep, I think about the stars in the sky. Funny how a melody sounds like a memory.

Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night,

Springsteen.

Even though you’re a million miles away, when you hear ‘Born in the USA’ you relive those glory days, so long ago.

Springsteen. “.

If you don’t want to read a political post, then you are putting your head into the sand – or you are brainwashed too far to consider what is really going on. But, truthfully, this is much more than about politics. Politics is game playing. Today my Marla’s Musings is not about politics. This is about losing our democracy and losing due process in our judicial system. Rights for every person. We are at a red alert, a screaming siren, point in our country – and it has only been 100 days.

This morning I actually had a text conversation with someone I hold very dear about moving out of the country. Maybe it was a bit of an extreme thought on her part, but the thought was there… and we discussed it.

We are white ‘oldish’ women who have no tattoos, no connections to drug lords, who don’t have any history of illegal wrongdoings. We are two women who have lived in a country all our lives. We loved our country even though we knew we had issues still to deal with, but we knew it was still a place of opportunity, and of possibility. We relied on the constitution and we knew our legal system was there to protect us. We even trusted in some of our leaders. But not anymore.

In 100 days we have watched as federal departments have been dismantled, thousands of good, experienced employees have been fired, and goon squads of police are taking people from their homes and off the streets with NO due process. Did you hear that?? People are getting handcuffed and put in jail, or worse, sent off to foreign prisons, without any chance to stand in court and say ‘not guilty.’ Not me. You have the wrong guy – or woman, or young children.

Due process is a foundation of our country. This is not America.

This is certainly not the America my dear friend who I texted with this morning, and I, want for our children and grandchildren. Or, for every other person in this land.

So, now, let me speak to those with their head in the sand, or with some infatuation with our president that I will never understand. HE IS DOING EXTREME DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY. He is ruining our standing in the world – financially, and as an ally with other countries. We are beyond being laughed at, because now we are mean. We no longer help anyone around the world – unless there is something in it for us. A deal. He is making snap decisions that are raising OUR prices, and that will hurt us all at the grocery store, and if we need to purchase a car, or any technology. He does not understand how tariffs work and is too bull-headed to care. He is stopping important research for work on disease cures and medical breakthroughs. He has no heart about our physical well-beings. He is taking away needed support for our hardworking single mothers, and even food for children with hungry bellies. He doesn’t want equality. He doesn’t have compassion.

Think about it. 100 days in our normal lives doesn’t really seem like much, does it? A bit over 3 months can go by so quickly. Almost like a blink! So, I wonder if maybe it’s that you who are not seeing what is going on and have not considered how quickly lives have and will change. How long will it take to really feel the repercussions of the 100 days? Believe me. They are coming.

They will affect everyone. Even you.

I have asked myself countless times over the last 12 years WHY so many Americans were fooled. Why he appealed to them. Why they liked what he said. Why his past failures didn’t matter. Why his life of lying was okay. And, I have said each of those times that I will never understand. I’m not super intellectual. And, I’m not privy to information that others are not. But I saw, and heard PLENTY all along these years to see this coming. But, you know what? Even I didn’t think it would come to this – and in just 100 days. I thought our checks and balances would hold.

So – How do we keep going? What can we do?

I am certainly speaking up, and making phone calls to my Congressional reps, and I am marching when I can. #RESIST But it is truly up to the Republicans to stop what is happening. Republicans have to say NO to him. They have to be the ones to pull the plug. They are the only ones who can remove this mad man and start to settle our country down. I don’t have much faith in that happening. And, I guess that’s why my friend and I talked about other places to live if we need to leave.

Deporting people without due process is wrong! Giving one man too much power is wrong! Taking away research is wrong! Book bans are wrong! Taking away women’s freedoms to choose is wrong. And, good lord, not feeding children is wrong!

100 days.

It has only been 100 days.

So, I went to my local Wal-Mart yesterday. I go to it just about every week because it is the closest food store to where I live and I like that I can pick up non-grocery items at the same time. I know my way around this particular Wal-Mart quite well. Yesterday I went down one of the cosmetic aisles to get a refill of the liquid face makeup I use. I immediately noticed ALL the makeup – EVERYTHING, including what I needed, plus mascaras, eye shadows, nail polishes, and more – were now behind plexiglass LOCKED doors. In the middle of each aisle was a box with a button to push to call a Wal-Mart associate to come, unlock the area with the makeup I needed, and then lock it back up. But that was not all…. Then, the associate put my little bottle of makeup into a locked bigger plastic box for the person at the cash register to unlock, open, and then scan!

Can you imagine the amount of theft they must be trying to stop to go to all that trouble? The cost of it? The installation of security doors, locks, call boxes, and remotes for the associates to wear. Then, plastic boxes to put the makeup in until checkout??

I mean, I knew some over-the-counter medicines have recently been locked safely away where people can’t steal them. And, I knew even high end items had security trackers on the boxes that will beep if you leave without checking out…. But, now this?

I have to tell you, once again, the people who steal, who choose to scam the system, have made everyone suffer. Now, people like me, who just want to get a small makeup item, have to go through a whole process – and we are the good people. But we do it – because the bad element has forced it on us.

It made me think….

Growing up I never ever thought once about stealing an item from a store. Maybe I am unusual.

I grew up in a middle class family. Definitely not rich. But we were also not so poor that we could not make ends meet. My dad was a pastor so you know he did not make a huge salary. My mother spent most of those years while I was growing up at home, taking care of the normal household things, cooking, shopping, etc. Eventually, when I was in high school, she took a part-time retail job.

I realize that I did not have the pressure like kids do today of seeing all these cool things to get, through ads and on social media. There were no influencers!! Ha. I picked out Christmas toys from the Sears catalog. I would circle my favorites in hopes my parents might see what I wanted and get me one or two of them.

Maybe, though, because I was not lacking basic needs, or maybe because I never wanted to get that shiny new object, I never wanted to steal. I never even thought about it.

I really think that somehow I internally had an awareness of right and wrong. I knew I could not live with myself if I took something from a store without paying for it. Even if I didn’t get caught! I would feel guilty. I thank my parents for instilling that in me. I grew up with a moral high ground. I grew up with a religious foundation too. It was not about fear. It was about being good, and kind, and fair.

These days we are in a real moral tug of war in America. Children are not getting the same values taught to them from society – and expectations have lowered. Many adults like to blame it on children…. They say the kids and young people are disrespectful and live in a disposable world. But I think it is unfortunately a bigger problem: that our young are seeing such hypocrisy from the adults. There is so much accepted now that did not used to be okay. Even our president is a morally empty man without repercussions. Many have no problem with him being a liar and cheater. If you can get away with it, then it is okay. Right? So bosses cheat. Employees steal. People lie without care. It seems to be everywhere.

Is it really worse now? I don’t know for sure – but it seems that way to me.

We are locking up items in stores. We are fearful and we carry guns. We stay quiet when something bad happens because we don’t want to get involved. We don’t look out for each other.

So…. We take our shoes off at airports. We park our cars away from public buildings. We don’t trust much anymore.

We even lock up $8 makeup face cream now.

I have a list of writing prompts that help give me ideas on what to write about (that isn’t political. Ha). So, from time to time I like to take a look at the list, use one, and write away! This one stuck out for me today…

What are 5 simple joys that are worth getting up for each day?

Do you have 5? Or maybe more?

It’s important to wake each morning with a positive look towards the day ahead. It’s not always easy if you don’t get enough sleep, or feel sick, or feel bored. Thankfully I rarely have them.

1. My first immediate thought for a simple joy each day was getting messages, pictures, and videos, from my daughters and the grandchildren. We keep a family text thread going all the time and each day we share sweet moments, or something funny, or a comment or two we’d like to pass on. I especially love love love seeing all pictures and videos of my grandkids!

2. Each morning I wake and make a cup of my favorite hot coffee: Cafe Francais from International Coffees. I savor it each morning. I drink it while I do the daily Wordle puzzle. Each day I then share my results with family members and with my bestie Sue. We compare answers. It gets my brain working first thing in the morning. I also work on The NY Times daily crossword online. Mondays and Tuesdays puzzles are my best chance of getting them fully filled in. If you do crosswords you know that each day of the week gets harder, with Saturday being the toughest one. Sunday puzzles are double in size. I love them! I’ve been addicted to crosswords most of my life.

3. My final online morning activity is getting on to Facebook (and Instagram) to check in with family and friends who share there. I love to see their posts. I also read political posts and inspiring messages, and I follow a few writers of essays. It is a ‘simple joy’ for me to take time in the morning, get caught up, with no need to rush out the door.

4. If I am home all morning I will go out and tend my garden. I’m a flower person. Not vegetables. I love watching my perennials come back each year. I love to weed. I love to water my flowers. I love to see growth and beauty in the blooms.

5. My fifth simple joy is for ‘car time.’ If I am going anywhere I put on a podcast now. I have my favorites to listen to each day and week. I look forward to longer trips now because I enjoy listening to them. Some are just fun to listen to, some are political, some actually teach me a thing or two.

Four out of five of my simple joys are techie, aren’t they? I am thankful for all the good I get from my connections via my IPad and my IPhone. If I went on listing more, beyond just 5 simple joys, I would say reading. All kinds of books. Historical fiction, biographies, inspiring stories, and more. I would also say dancing. I would say pets – of course! These are daily joys, and reasons for me to get up and going each morning.

I hope you can find at least five simple joys each day. Today is Earth Day so we can’t forget about the beauty of where we live, and the impact getting outdoors can do for you physically and mentally. I love to piddle outside, to experience what is around me.

What are your simple joys?? Comment and let me know. It’s a good exercise to consider what is wonderful in our lives – that don’t cost much, that take little preparation, and that help you smile throughout the day.

“Back where I come From” is a country song I like a lot, performed by Kenny Chesney. It’s an oldie and a goodie. Do you know it?

Well, we all have a place we come from, where our parents were living when we were born, and we can look back even much farther to see where our ancestors came from, before arriving in America.

My cousin Kay did lots of research years ago about my dad’s side of the family. I appreciate all the names, dates, and other info she found. I pulled it out this morning because I recently finished a book about the Civil War and it got me wondering if my ancestors had arrived before the war broke out. I could not remember. And, reading about a time in history can make it all seem more real if you have a personal connection.

What I read in Kay’s research is that my great-great grandfather was John George Milheim, and he married Anna Elisabeth Frederick in Alsace-Lorraine, France in 1868. He and his wife Anna had many children (perhaps 7) and one of them, Jacob Frederick Milheim, was born in 1869 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Jacob married Margaret Louise Reno in Butler in 1892. So this tells me that John and Anna must have taken a ship across the Atlantic shortly after they married and they made their way to Butler. Anna was probably pregnant along the voyage.

The US Civil War started on April 12, 1861 and it officially ended on April 9, 1865. So, I learned that my great-grandparents Jacob and Margaret came to America right after the Civil War. They came to a new land, to settle, to work, and to start their family. Ulysses S. Grant was president at the time.

My great-grandparents had six children, one being my grandfather, the second oldest, Norman Frederick Milheim, and he was born in Butler, PA. He married Florence Voeller Milheim in Grove City, Ohio in 1921.

One of their two children was my dad, Paul Richard Milheim, who was born in 1926 and just died last year at the age of 97.

Wooo. That was a lot of names and dates, right? But what it shows is that a part of my family (on my father’s side – the male line) came to the US only 156 years ago. They were immigrants looking for a better life I suppose. We will really never know why John and Anna, so young, decided to leave their hometown, to leave Europe completely, to cross the ocean, and to come to the New World. Although, we do know that John was born at a time in an area of France that bordered Germany, and that border changed at times, so it was also sometimes part of Germany. Maybe political unrest was concerning to them. The name Milheim is very German, the miller from the hamlet. Anna’s maiden last name was Frederick, also German, and she could have been somehow related to the Frederick name of rulers in Rome and Prussia.

My direct ancestors got out of Germany way before the rise of Hitler. I am thankful that they were not there during World War II but I am sure other family members (their sisters, brothers, cousins) were still living in Germany and suffered during those years.

I have read lots of books about the experiences, real and historical fiction, about people in Europe during the war. Knowing ancestors were there makes it real. I can imagine the horror they went through. So frightening to them.

My brother had his DNA analyzed a few years back and the company connected him with others who had also been checked and they were primarily people who had migrated from New York, to Pennsylvania (there is a small town in the state called Millheim, near State College) and then on to central Ohio. Many landed and settled in rural areas to start farms. They were Lutherans and they brought their religion with them and they set aside land for church buildings. My grandfather was a Lutheran pastor. My father Paul became one also. They both served various churches in Ohio.

I’m lucky to know these roots and to be able to follow it back to Europe. (Again, thank you cousin Kay.) It is definitely nice to ‘know where I come from.’ I realize not everyone does.

I don’t have quite as complete information on my other side, my genealogy on my mother’s side. But she also had German ancestors, and her father’s last name was Fogt, thought to be Americanized from the name Vogt when they arrived here. They also all settled in Ohio, many in central-western Ohio.

I write this because I think it is good for my daughters to know some of their history. Family names have been re-used through the generations…. We have several Fredericks, and Paul connections (first a Pauline, then Paul, and now three Paulettes.)

I also write this because it is one example of how people make pretty big decisions about moving. Back then, in the 1800’s, it was for opportunity, and for a place to raise a family. It still is today. Maybe thinking about our own family histories can help understand why immigrants today are taking a chance, looking for a better life.