Confession – I’m a newspaper junkie, I subscribe to the Alpena News because I want to hold to paper, to preserve it all to see what is going on in the world. I don’t want to read it on my phone; it’s another way I prove I am no longer a teenager.

My basic beliefs have not changed since I was a kid, I believe that compassion is part of our job as human beings. We must show all who see us that we believe in love, peace, and forgiveness.

This country is in a mess. Much of what is going on is embarrassment. As a country we must remember what America is supposed to stand for. We have lived through the abuse of indigenous people, slavery, racism, and the fight for women’s rights. Surely, we can learn from all of this that all people are people, such as we are.

I went to the grocery store and a gentleman insisted on holding the door open until I was off the ice and safely inside. This was a pure example of love, kindness, and peace. We all need to be part of this. As I wrote earlier, compassion is a part of our job. We up here in Northern Michigan get to look out our windows and see beauty. Both sun and snow should make us smile. We are a few of the lucky ones. Gold and diamonds cannot make me smile as much as a big woodpecker outside my bird feeder. The deer have told my leprechauns how much they appreciated the apples, so I will continue to share.

There are so many wonderful people who are examples of what America stands for and make us proud. Why are so many of our leaders making me embarrassed for my country? American soldiers shooting American citizens should never happen. We are now looking like Hamas to other countries. God bless and help us learn to love. If your church is not telling you to love your enemies, but keeps telling you who your enemies are, you are not really in church.