Blog 2950 – 11.27.2023

1854 Meet Kirsten – Chapter 1

Today begins the first of three American Girl stories about three very different girls and very different times in American history but all the same story really. They are stories of hope and love. This is not just an American story but a worldwide story. As I look into the eyes of my new granddaughter Emma Grace I wonder at the future marvels these little eyes will see. I hope she has a wonderful journey. It is the hope of every parent, grandparent for their children. Many immigrants come to this country hoping for a better life for their children.

Ours is a story of immigration. Why even the First People came from somewhere else so we are all even they pilgrims. Some words from a rock anthem from my youth comes to mind: “Head out on the highway, looking for adventure, whatever comes my way…”

My plans for retirement were to hit the road full time with my wife and see as much of America as we could. Those plans have changed due to circumstances. But then as John Lennon said so appropriately “Life is what happens while we are busy making other plans.” I had never planned to be a stuck in the same place for more than a few months ever again. My work life on the road for ten years except for the Covid lockdown convinced me that I wanted to see all there is to see of this country that we Americans, natives, naturalized, and immigrants egocentrically call America. We are usually referring to The United States of America which is actually smaller than Canada and therefore not even the biggest country in North America, which is smaller than South America. There are a lot of Americans other than the Norte de Americanos, boys and girls.

As you listen to the stories of three American Girls in the coming days I hope you will be reminded how very similar our hopes and dreams all are. Instead of building walls I hope we build more bridges. A favorite line of mine from the Bible says, “Perfect love casts out fears.” Fear sells more papers and gets more notice on the campaign trail and promises to build more prisons and more walls to protect us from those other people, you know the ones not like us. But we are all more alike than we think.

We Americans (here again using the limited version – citizens of the USA) like to think of ourselves as “One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” A noble goal, one we strive to achieve but have yet to entirely. And sad to say there are still some who would keep others out, and seem always to vie for the biggest piece of the pie. The Land of Opportunity, the New World, has not always lived up to its name nor we to listen to our highest and best angels.

Like the three American Girls in these stories hope and love can make this a better country and a better world.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X25EelhzRnfgGjbAqA34tgOOy_M2gw2W/view?usp=drivesdk

1854 Meet Kirsten – Chapter 1