Dear Reader:

In Charleston … yesterday, Presidents Day, meant no school if… the assignments for Tuesday were complete. So Sunday night… Eva Cate face-timed me that she finished her Cold War project so she and Jake could come visit me yesterday. Happiness is my grandchildren visiting Boo.

I had an earlier morning appointment so Mandy and the kids came on and I met them at the house… sunshine, 70’s and the new Laurel Street Park had just opened to the delight of ” holiday” kids, lunch out, ice cream … followed by the kids and Mandy helping me fix up another section of the garden!

It wasn’t until they started to leave that darkening clouds drove the blue away and the winds picked up… still the ” half and half” day worked in its timing.

As I waved goodbye… and took a picture (title photo) of the darkening skies… I remembered a little short story with a lot of relevancy to life in our country today.

One day the Sun in all her radiance was shining high in the sky, when a massive Storm Cloud formed right in front of her. The Storm Cloud said, ” I’m more powerful than you! I can raise mighty winds and pummel the earth with my rain. “

The Sun just smiled , which infuriated the Storm Cloud even more. The Storm Cloud said ” See that little boy? Whoever can get his jacket off is the most powerful.”

In his pride the Storm Cloud summoned all of his strength and rolled himself out across the the entire skyline, spitting and raining on the little boy, trying to blow off his jacket. The boy held in tighter . At the height of his triumphal display, the Storm Cloud realized he had spent all of his power and now was evaporating away.

The Sun kept shining patiently, radiating her light and warmth. The little boy started to sweat. It was getting hot. The little boy took off his jacket!

Obviously the moral of the story … when you try to force anyone in your life to do what you want them to do… they are going to hold on tighter.

How many of us as parents learned this lesson the hard way when we told our teenage son or daughter we disapproved of their girl or boyfriend… they just grew closer ( and yes, unfortunately, tighter 🤣)!!!

Like the Sun we must be patient ( pray a lot) and keep our conversation ” light.”

And until tomorrow… I just try to remember Grandmother Wilson’s mantra about arguing… ” It’s easier to catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

Personally… with all the split views today on seemingly everything… I listen for the ” We the People” candidates over ” I’m the Person ” ones….

Every time any of the children/ grandchildren come see me I feel like Piglet…” I just want to be sure of each… and hug them.”

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh