Plurk paste

I don’t know about you, but I’m sticking with Kamala’s mantra from Monday night: “There’s more that unites us than divides us.”

In our regular Company Name Newsletter yesterday morning, I shared my election day wish that, a year from now, “I want to feel that kindness has prevailed. Each evening, I want to be eager to catch the news for exciting reports of progress in Congress. On the floor of the House, true respect is shown, ideas flow, and great give-and-take leads to effective solutions ...”

That hasn’t changed today and, all day yesterday, it was heart-warming to see Company Customers weigh in via email and in the Comments section. “Oh my, your wish for the rest of this year into 2025 is my wish, too!” wrote Linda Bogaard. “Thank you for putting it out into the universe and sharing it with us!”

Early afternoon, Kay Valentino had wisely mused, “May the person who gets the most electoral votes accept the results with grace and gratitude and be a president for all people, even those who did not vote for the person who won. And may the coming years bring peace and prosperity with people working together to try to solve all of our issues ~ small and big.”

After reading the dozen or so Cardie comments, Paige Bakersummed up late in the day as she often wonderfully does from her vantage point on Pacific time. “So good to know my heart’s desire is shared so beautifully in our community. There is much to be hopeful about ... may God grant us the grace to move forward.”

This morning, I received a bright and early call from friend Naomi Patterson (who many of you may remember cared for our Hannlis to her dying day). Living just outside D.C., Na said, “I just wanted to say I love you. Politics be damned, we all need to stay connected to those we love and who love us.”

As I sat there savoring Naomi’s call and Paige’s positive, “There is much to be hopeful about,” an email from Company Customer Barri Goldfarb popped in saying, “I’m at home in western North Carolina which has been devastated by the hurricane. But the beauty in the tragedy is the way the community has come together. Neighbor helping neighbor. There was a strong tradition of that here already but it has been on full display these past five weeks. Love to see it!”

Then I happened to spot this pic I keep on my desktop for grins, its pure joy and innocence, and as a reminder that there is hope for humanity.

Little Gracie was scraped off the street by a kind-hearted cop five years ago. He whisked her to the nearest animal hospital, personally paid the $1,500 needed to fuse her hip and pelvis back together, and then found a shelter that would keep her for the nine months it took for me to come upon her there in 2020. She was one scared puppy with me for two years … until “MamaLuda” came into her life.

Luda, many of you may remember from past stories, is originally from Crimea and moved freely between Russia and Ukraine until coming to the States with an American husband she’d met in Europe 30 years ago now. She lives in the high-rise next door, and we’d long been nodding acquaintances on our little stretch of Miami Beach, but became fast friends when I reached out to her in concern as Putin was threatening to invade. Since then, Luda has become “family by love” to me and — for you — has chosen each and every image published on new Company Name cards.

All this is to say it’s true: You, me, Kay, Paige, Naomi, Barri, Linda, Luda, and nearly 385 million fellow citizens. Yes, we’re different, and yet the same. Surely, “there’s more that unites us than divides us” in this land of the free and home of the brave. On we go.