Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, but your government when they deserve it. I may have written this before, but it is still true. I love my country. I love even more this place called Northern Michigan. But I am embarrassed about how other countries see us now. Are we an underdeveloped third-world country? The uncivilized? The undemocratic?

I was always proud to be an American when I travel. I now want to say “I’m from Iceland, Sweden, or even the moon.” Just somewhere there isn’t rioting in the streets, kids killing kids, crowds attacking our capitol. I think it may be time to stay home and put a sign in my window saying “Closed.”

On another note, my family is attempting to take care of me. An impossible task or so my husband said. If you tell me I can’t do it, you know I will.

I remember being told I could never carry a child. I now have five wonderful children. I was told I was too old to skydive, so skydiving I did. I like a challenge, but I want fate to be on my side. So I’ll still whine about politics, but I will always vote.

Remember this from Ayn Rand, “The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me!” So I say to all, “Go for it and hug your loved ones.”

The Association of Lifetime Learners is now 25 years old and is run as democratically as ever. It is still fun to be with friends, to share food, laughs, and love.