Decades ago I read a book titled What Really Matters, written by Tony Schwartz, in 1995, who also wrote the Art of the Deal. It turned out to be one of the most inspiring and influential books I’d ever read, and I’ve read thousands of books. The book focuses on many of the topics Mary mentioned in her beautiful post, - human resilience, spiritual growth, or fundamental needs like authentic connection with others, personal integrity, enjoying life’s simple pleasures, and the sublime nature and sense of awe from simply being alive. And walking in the snow…
The following interview with PBS is also quite revealing-
We must have midterm elections as the terms of every house representative and approximately 34 senators expire in early January 2027. That would leave the senate in Democratic hands. Remember that the states run all aspects of the elections. The federal government has no say in them. Saying that we will not have elections is taking dumpy’s bait. Don’t do it as you are giving dumpy what he wants. Volunteer to register voters, or anything to help us win. Do anything but give in to the chaos.
He has spent his life that he doesn't believe in any power and rights but his own. If he is still in office come the fall, we will have battles in the streets.
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride," as my mother used to remind me. And she was right. I began wishing my ex-husband would drop dead back in the seventies, and he's still kicking. Just sayin'. 😏
I know what you are talking about -- I got married way too young but I needed to get away from my mother who was already showing signs of early onset Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, my husband was way too much like my mother, but I stuck it out and became a widow when I was 69-years-stubborn. These 3 years living with just my beasties have been wonderful and my wish for you is that you will have the opportunity to live your life, your way.
No, but he will do his best to rig them (e.g. redistricting mid-decade, throwing people off polls in Dem leaning districts). Knowing him, he will probably station federal troops IN polling places.
The rule of law is gone. Trump is a full-fledged dictator and the only way I see him being removed is when the military shows up at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and give him one minute to exit, lay down on the lawn with his feet and arms spread And put in the handcuffs and thrown in a cage for the rest of his days.
Yes, they are the ones who can remove a president if Congress can't since their duty is to protect the Constitution, not him. He is violating the Constitution.
Yes, I considered that too, but they can also go against him as well, I imagine, especially if generals, admirals, and other higher level military get involved. Hegseth may be over them, but he is still accountable to We The People, who pay his salary. There will be a mutiny if they try to turn the military against us.
Sometimes on the battlefield soldiers do something called fragging their officers. This is happening On the battlefields of Ukraine and it happened in Vietnam. Fragging is the killing of command officers by the soldiers.
Whiskey Pete Hegseth is in command of the every branch of the military. Whiskey Pete has a lot of military members who hate him more than cancer.
I don’t think there’s any way out of it but in order to restore the republic and the rule of one, blood will be spilled. Let’s just hope it’s not the blood of patriot but rather the blood of tyrants.
Thank you for the article, Mary, it’s snowing in Chicago, Rams are ahead 17-10. I am not exactly a football fan, but when it comes to the West Coast, where I was born in southern, Oregon, you, bet. They keep dropping the football 🏈, as it is close. Tuxedo Man says hello, he appreciates football 🏈. I can’t wait until baseball ⚾️, season begins, or Jack Roosevelt Robinson Day, tax day, I was born on that spring April morning at 420 am according to my beloved grandmother, who was very happy, that, I was a female. She gave me all the strength, and courage, to keep going on. She, my grandmother left, Virginia where she was born, because of all of the lynching’s to travel west. She had a hard life, but gave her love to all her grandchildren. They were her greatest joy. Please subscribe to The Good in us by Mary L. Trump. Go Rams.
I have 2 Basset Hound puppies and as they stretch their necks, stare up at the sky and HOWL....I do the same, in imitation. Releases a lot of anguish and gives all a laugh. I would love the snow...but I live in Hawaii!!
Mary Trump, I listened to your conversation today with Bob Cesca about Star Trek, and I loved it! Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek was very much about morality, right from wrong. The Republican Party TODAY is all about the Bible and lower taxes for billionaires worldwide. Republicans who are struggling financially don’t realize that the Republican Party billionaires are USING them by kidnapping their religion. Jesus Christ was a very moral person. “Christian” Republicans today are extremely amoral. “Star Trek” must be used to teach morality in America, NOT the Bible.
The Bible is a historical book, and there is a lot of violence in it. My comment was not meant to be about the Bible, but the people who call themselves “Christians” today, but do not follow the teachings of Jesus.
Historical does not always mean inherently truthful. The writings that make up the bible that we know today were chosen from many other writings from the past. The people “men” that chose what to compile into the modern day bible had their own bias’ and perspectives operating at that time in history. Maybe its time to include a few more historical writings that have been discovered that were left out during the first go? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mary
Nothing wrong with the Bible, if you don't mind that two-thirds of it are Jewish myths and legends and the remaining third is non-contemporary accounts of a homeless preacher's activities, plus a bunch of letters attributed to – but not actually written by – a religious zealot who murdered infidels, then rebranded himself as an "apostle" who continued to espouse his extremist views, such as "women should sit down and shut up."
Nothing wrong with the Bible if you don't mind that its provenance is sketchy at best, given that the canon was assembled by a bunch of old men who decided what should be included and what should be deleted, and that at least one king had a whole section removed because he disagreed with its content.
Nothing wrong with the Bible if you're okay with being coerced into worshipping an imaginary deity created by a bunch of old men sitting around their fires thousands of years ago, trying to explain the inexplicable and failing, so they invented a deity, just as old men did in Rome, Athens, Oslo and Mecca, to name a few.
Please read the book, "Separation of Church and Hate" by John Fugelsang as he really discusses what the Bible actually says! Take care of your neighbor!
THANK YOU MARY for these thoughts and images. Living out here in Bridgehampton, after decades as a famous artist living in Tokyo, always surrounded by people and involved in events, and now that my husband has been gone for many years, it is a solitary existence out here. Except for the wonderful wild birds who come to feed on my deck, and the many deer running across my lawn. Not many friends out here, some in NYC, and other places in the world, but no one close here. I've spent the last 2 years siting at home finishing my Memoir, and now have to downsize my home to move out so my sons can renovate and fix problems with this house, now 40 years on.
You are right, one should not go it alone. I'm glad that you have a cozy place to come home to with a parter there for you. Out here in la la land as I call it, there are not many choices.
We both, we ,some of us, have our writing and artwork to fill our days. But friends are important. Some good ones have left us, and some others are out of reach. This should not be allowed to happen!
I so appreciate your writing and your posts. I look forward to all of them. Thank you for all you share. Stay warm and cozy,
I went to a 70th birthday party last night for a friend I met when we started working at the same place in 1980.
The people there were from all walks of my friend’s life, and everyone was interested in everyone else, catching up or learning about people we hadn’t known before.
So yes—times like these are as important as the possible downfall of our republic, I swear.
Lovely, Mary. Thank you. Glad you took the time to go out with friends
Decades ago I read a book titled What Really Matters, written by Tony Schwartz, in 1995, who also wrote the Art of the Deal. It turned out to be one of the most inspiring and influential books I’d ever read, and I’ve read thousands of books. The book focuses on many of the topics Mary mentioned in her beautiful post, - human resilience, spiritual growth, or fundamental needs like authentic connection with others, personal integrity, enjoying life’s simple pleasures, and the sublime nature and sense of awe from simply being alive. And walking in the snow…
The following interview with PBS is also quite revealing-
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interview/tony-schwartz/
.
Self care - especially with beloved friends and our spouse is everything. It certainly fills my cup - glad you took time for yourself
giving yourself permission from time to time to hang out with people you love without worrying about the rest of the world for a couple of hours.
Absolutely!
We must have midterm elections as the terms of every house representative and approximately 34 senators expire in early January 2027. That would leave the senate in Democratic hands. Remember that the states run all aspects of the elections. The federal government has no say in them. Saying that we will not have elections is taking dumpy’s bait. Don’t do it as you are giving dumpy what he wants. Volunteer to register voters, or anything to help us win. Do anything but give in to the chaos.
We all need to laugh as much as possible.
Dumpy? Do you mean the Very Angry Toddler? For he IS a very angry toddler!
Yeah, I was using voldemort but it was too many letters. dumpy just seemed to fit.
Thanks for the chuckle! ;')
Thank you for reminding us to take some time for ourselves, and reconnect with those dear to us.
Thank you for sharing. To have a like minded soul to share life is the most precious gift of all!
What midterms? Your demented uncle is already musing about suspending them! When he muses, it is inly the prelude to action!
He won’t be able to. The elections are states rights.
He has spent his life that he doesn't believe in any power and rights but his own. If he is still in office come the fall, we will have battles in the streets.
That's my fear.
We already have battles in the streets via the protests related to ICE.
hopefully he can be gone by then!
Hopefully he’ll drop dead long beforehand.
That might be even worse. JD Vance has been influence by Curtis Yarvin, an anti-humanist tech bro.
You've definitely got a good point.
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride," as my mother used to remind me. And she was right. I began wishing my ex-husband would drop dead back in the seventies, and he's still kicking. Just sayin'. 😏
I know what you are talking about -- I got married way too young but I needed to get away from my mother who was already showing signs of early onset Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, my husband was way too much like my mother, but I stuck it out and became a widow when I was 69-years-stubborn. These 3 years living with just my beasties have been wonderful and my wish for you is that you will have the opportunity to live your life, your way.
No, but he will do his best to rig them (e.g. redistricting mid-decade, throwing people off polls in Dem leaning districts). Knowing him, he will probably station federal troops IN polling places.
Since when has he been restrained by the rule of law?
He has flouted his defiance.
The rule of law is gone. Trump is a full-fledged dictator and the only way I see him being removed is when the military shows up at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and give him one minute to exit, lay down on the lawn with his feet and arms spread And put in the handcuffs and thrown in a cage for the rest of his days.
Yes, they are the ones who can remove a president if Congress can't since their duty is to protect the Constitution, not him. He is violating the Constitution.
On the other hand, with Hegseth in control of the military, do you think they would actually follow the Constitution?
Yes, I considered that too, but they can also go against him as well, I imagine, especially if generals, admirals, and other higher level military get involved. Hegseth may be over them, but he is still accountable to We The People, who pay his salary. There will be a mutiny if they try to turn the military against us.
From your mouth to G-d's ear.
Members of the German military tried to assassinate Hitler.
Sometimes on the battlefield soldiers do something called fragging their officers. This is happening On the battlefields of Ukraine and it happened in Vietnam. Fragging is the killing of command officers by the soldiers.
Whiskey Pete Hegseth is in command of the every branch of the military. Whiskey Pete has a lot of military members who hate him more than cancer.
I don't want anyone killed, but maybe a nice non-violent mutiny could get him out of the way.
I don’t think there’s any way out of it but in order to restore the republic and the rule of one, blood will be spilled. Let’s just hope it’s not the blood of patriot but rather the blood of tyrants.
Can't say I "like" this comment, but I fear you may be correct.
I never thought I would see this in my lifetime.
I'm glad you can find a peaceful moment and a bit of comfort at home.
Thank you for the article, Mary, it’s snowing in Chicago, Rams are ahead 17-10. I am not exactly a football fan, but when it comes to the West Coast, where I was born in southern, Oregon, you, bet. They keep dropping the football 🏈, as it is close. Tuxedo Man says hello, he appreciates football 🏈. I can’t wait until baseball ⚾️, season begins, or Jack Roosevelt Robinson Day, tax day, I was born on that spring April morning at 420 am according to my beloved grandmother, who was very happy, that, I was a female. She gave me all the strength, and courage, to keep going on. She, my grandmother left, Virginia where she was born, because of all of the lynching’s to travel west. She had a hard life, but gave her love to all her grandchildren. They were her greatest joy. Please subscribe to The Good in us by Mary L. Trump. Go Rams.
Fantastic game!
I have 2 Basset Hound puppies and as they stretch their necks, stare up at the sky and HOWL....I do the same, in imitation. Releases a lot of anguish and gives all a laugh. I would love the snow...but I live in Hawaii!!
Yes! i am a dual US/UK citizen. I live in a rural area of Wales. I am organising a howl party now! 🧠💋
Happy Howling!! Wales will love it. I have 11 family in Somerset. I am frae north o the border...Scotland...albeit in Hawaii for 37 years!!
Mary Trump, I listened to your conversation today with Bob Cesca about Star Trek, and I loved it! Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek was very much about morality, right from wrong. The Republican Party TODAY is all about the Bible and lower taxes for billionaires worldwide. Republicans who are struggling financially don’t realize that the Republican Party billionaires are USING them by kidnapping their religion. Jesus Christ was a very moral person. “Christian” Republicans today are extremely amoral. “Star Trek” must be used to teach morality in America, NOT the Bible.
Nothing wrong with the Bible. The Republicans just don't follow it.
The Bible is a historical book, and there is a lot of violence in it. My comment was not meant to be about the Bible, but the people who call themselves “Christians” today, but do not follow the teachings of Jesus.
It might be historical but it's relevance always applies.
The fact that there is violence speaks to it's truthfulness... It doesn't try and hide what the historical facts were. We can trust what it says!
Historical does not always mean inherently truthful. The writings that make up the bible that we know today were chosen from many other writings from the past. The people “men” that chose what to compile into the modern day bible had their own bias’ and perspectives operating at that time in history. Maybe its time to include a few more historical writings that have been discovered that were left out during the first go? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mary
I choose to believe the Bible. And everyone is of course free to believe it or not. Choose wisely.
Nothing wrong with the Bible, if you don't mind that two-thirds of it are Jewish myths and legends and the remaining third is non-contemporary accounts of a homeless preacher's activities, plus a bunch of letters attributed to – but not actually written by – a religious zealot who murdered infidels, then rebranded himself as an "apostle" who continued to espouse his extremist views, such as "women should sit down and shut up."
Nothing wrong with the Bible if you don't mind that its provenance is sketchy at best, given that the canon was assembled by a bunch of old men who decided what should be included and what should be deleted, and that at least one king had a whole section removed because he disagreed with its content.
Nothing wrong with the Bible if you're okay with being coerced into worshipping an imaginary deity created by a bunch of old men sitting around their fires thousands of years ago, trying to explain the inexplicable and failing, so they invented a deity, just as old men did in Rome, Athens, Oslo and Mecca, to name a few.
Please read the book, "Separation of Church and Hate" by John Fugelsang as he really discusses what the Bible actually says! Take care of your neighbor!
Watched Star Trek with husband and son… agree that it teaches valuable lessons and new ways of looking at things!
THANK YOU MARY for these thoughts and images. Living out here in Bridgehampton, after decades as a famous artist living in Tokyo, always surrounded by people and involved in events, and now that my husband has been gone for many years, it is a solitary existence out here. Except for the wonderful wild birds who come to feed on my deck, and the many deer running across my lawn. Not many friends out here, some in NYC, and other places in the world, but no one close here. I've spent the last 2 years siting at home finishing my Memoir, and now have to downsize my home to move out so my sons can renovate and fix problems with this house, now 40 years on.
You are right, one should not go it alone. I'm glad that you have a cozy place to come home to with a parter there for you. Out here in la la land as I call it, there are not many choices.
We both, we ,some of us, have our writing and artwork to fill our days. But friends are important. Some good ones have left us, and some others are out of reach. This should not be allowed to happen!
I so appreciate your writing and your posts. I look forward to all of them. Thank you for all you share. Stay warm and cozy,
Lynn.
It is always important to make time for your friends, Mary. Nothing is guaranteed. We must make the most of what little time we have.
Thank you, Mary!
I went to a 70th birthday party last night for a friend I met when we started working at the same place in 1980.
The people there were from all walks of my friend’s life, and everyone was interested in everyone else, catching up or learning about people we hadn’t known before.
So yes—times like these are as important as the possible downfall of our republic, I swear.
Gorgeous writing… You inspire me. Thank you.
Beautiful, Mary. Thank you for continuing to light our pathway to love and sanity.