Forsythia
@forsythia4ever.bsky.social
Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many (Mark Twain).
So proud of the peaceful protesters out there voicing opposition to #Authoritarianism. I try to gauge how much current news is absorbed by my children & grandchildren. I see them at their usual daily routines and wonder if their lives will be upended by the greedy & power-mad of the current regime
a painting of a cloudy sky with a few drops of water
Alt: A cloudy sky reflected in the surface of a pond, with a few drops of water creating a ripple effect.
media.tenor.com
April 20, 2025 at 1:53 AM
So proud of the peaceful protesters out there voicing opposition to #Authoritarianism. I try to gauge how much current news is absorbed by my children & grandchildren. I see them at their usual daily routines and wonder if their lives will be upended by the greedy & power-mad of the current regime
As you age, many memories from childhood & teen years surface. My granddaughter politely listens to my stories, and I hope she remembers some to pass on to her children so that they have family history to relate to. The #History of a family (and of a Country) is vital to remember — warts and all.
a poster that says thank you to the educators who teach
Alt: A colorful poster that reads, “thank you to educators who teach the good and the bad of our history.” Behind the words is a cartoon-like drawing of a hand clasping a pencil. At the bottom is an image of a small open book with a sunrise behind it.
media.tenor.com
April 12, 2025 at 1:57 AM
As you age, many memories from childhood & teen years surface. My granddaughter politely listens to my stories, and I hope she remembers some to pass on to her children so that they have family history to relate to. The #History of a family (and of a Country) is vital to remember — warts and all.
One of my great-grandchildren is struggling with concentration in primary school. They excel at arithmetic, and, because of the connection between maths & music, I’ve suggested introducing them to piano. It will be interesting to see if a musical interest develops & if piano helps with concentration
a piano keyboard with a treble clef on the bottom
Alt: A colorful moving image of a cartoon-like circular piano keyboard. Surrounding this rotating black and white keyboard are treble clefs and bass clefs.
media.tenor.com
April 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
One of my great-grandchildren is struggling with concentration in primary school. They excel at arithmetic, and, because of the connection between maths & music, I’ve suggested introducing them to piano. It will be interesting to see if a musical interest develops & if piano helps with concentration
Be inspired by acts of courage in service to others — no matter how small. Our contributions may not be as great as those of a hero U.S. Senator commanding the Senate floor, but we can inspire our children & grandchildren by leading them to protect and care for the marginalized & vulnerable
a poster that says no matter how tough the leader has to have the courage to do what 's right
Alt: A colorful moving image that reads, “no matter how tough, a leader has to have the courage to do what’s right. Tammy Baldwin.” A white burst surrounds the word courage.
media.tenor.com
April 2, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Be inspired by acts of courage in service to others — no matter how small. Our contributions may not be as great as those of a hero U.S. Senator commanding the Senate floor, but we can inspire our children & grandchildren by leading them to protect and care for the marginalized & vulnerable
I’ve been thinking about underpaid & under-resourced #Teachers. What are we doing to attract the best candidates to entry-level teaching positions in our #PublicSchools? Can our police forces sell off some excess warfare equipment and divert those funds to teachers for purchasing classroom supplies?
a chalkboard with the words " every child deserves a well paid teacher " on it
Alt: A cartoon-like colorful image, depicting a chalkboard on which appear the words "every child deserves a well paid teacher." Below the chalkboard is drawn a chair and a rotating world globe.
media.tenor.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I’ve been thinking about underpaid & under-resourced #Teachers. What are we doing to attract the best candidates to entry-level teaching positions in our #PublicSchools? Can our police forces sell off some excess warfare equipment and divert those funds to teachers for purchasing classroom supplies?
In 2016, I stopped flying the American flag at my home after five decades of doing so daily. Living in a red area of a blue state, the stars & stripes has been coopted here to show support for tyranny, and I don’t. I pray for the day when I can fly our flag proudly again — when #Democracy returns
a flag with the words protect democracy remember what they fought for on it
Alt: A cartoon-like depiction of an American flag waving on a flagpole. On the flag is written: “protect democracy; remember what they fought for.”
media.tenor.com
March 31, 2025 at 2:10 AM
In 2016, I stopped flying the American flag at my home after five decades of doing so daily. Living in a red area of a blue state, the stars & stripes has been coopted here to show support for tyranny, and I don’t. I pray for the day when I can fly our flag proudly again — when #Democracy returns
To be without #Honor. We are witnessing men wielding ultimate power without decency, compassion, or honor to guide them. How does one conduct a life without honor and allow base instincts to dominate thought & action? Why would anyone look to these dishonorable men and become their followers?
a pitcher of kool aid with the words do n't drink the kool aid written on it
Alt: A moving cartoon-like image of a pitcher containing a red liquid. Some droplets of the liquid are pictured splashing out of the pitcher. Over the pitcher appear the words, “don't drink the kool aid.”
media.tenor.com
March 30, 2025 at 1:30 AM
To be without #Honor. We are witnessing men wielding ultimate power without decency, compassion, or honor to guide them. How does one conduct a life without honor and allow base instincts to dominate thought & action? Why would anyone look to these dishonorable men and become their followers?
Recently, I saw an article about young men, just old enough to vote, being more likely to support conservatives than progressives. Exposing all children to different cultures and to full participation of women in society seems vital to raising an open-minded and compassionate man #ItTakesAVillage
a poster that says compassion is essential on a yellow background
Alt: A pulsing cartoon-like gif that reads “compassion is essential” on a yellow background. The words are underlined, and the letter o in the word “compassion” is drawn as a heart.
media.tenor.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Recently, I saw an article about young men, just old enough to vote, being more likely to support conservatives than progressives. Exposing all children to different cultures and to full participation of women in society seems vital to raising an open-minded and compassionate man #ItTakesAVillage
I wonder who will be telling the stories of these times in the #Future. Will they be able to parse the truth from all the #Propaganda? Will there be researchers in the future? Will the infamous architects of our downfall be identified and their betrayals recorded? Are we entering the #NewDarkAges?
a drawing of a man with a hood reading a book
Alt: A cartoon-like drawing of a person, wearing a hooded cloak, facing away from the viewer. The person holds a quill pen in their right hand, and has open before them a scroll filled with writing. The background is dark. The light comes from the right-hand side of the image.
media.tenor.com
March 28, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I wonder who will be telling the stories of these times in the #Future. Will they be able to parse the truth from all the #Propaganda? Will there be researchers in the future? Will the infamous architects of our downfall be identified and their betrayals recorded? Are we entering the #NewDarkAges?
I come from a long line of working women. My mother lived with my husband & I until her passing. Her mother had passed, in poverty, in the “county old-age home” before the 1967 law establishing Medicare/Medicaid. This new U.S. admin must preserve these programs to avoid the scourge of #ElderPoverty
March 26, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I come from a long line of working women. My mother lived with my husband & I until her passing. Her mother had passed, in poverty, in the “county old-age home” before the 1967 law establishing Medicare/Medicaid. This new U.S. admin must preserve these programs to avoid the scourge of #ElderPoverty
When I see weak, damaged men in power, I see the boys they were who bullied, lied & used others. Back when neighbors watched out for each other, neighborhood mothers would keep a close eye as children played together, and bullying behavior was nipped in the bud. Our tragedy is these bullies now rule
a poster that says good neighbors make great communities with two women holding flowers
Alt: A cartoon-like colorful moving image of one person handing a bouquet of flowers to another. Across the image are the words, “good neighbors make great communities.”
media.tenor.com
March 25, 2025 at 1:45 AM
When I see weak, damaged men in power, I see the boys they were who bullied, lied & used others. Back when neighbors watched out for each other, neighborhood mothers would keep a close eye as children played together, and bullying behavior was nipped in the bud. Our tragedy is these bullies now rule
I hope that my grandchildren & great-grandchildren can emerge from these harrowing times unscathed by the #Corruption evident around us. I hope they can see through all the #Lies & obfuscation disseminated on #SocialMedia. Now, I can only lead by example & offer guidance based on my life experience.
Americans Deserve A Government Free Of Corruption American Flag GIF
Alt: A moving image of a waving red, white, and blue flag. On the flag are the words, “Americans Deserve A Government Free Of Corruption.”
media.tenor.com
March 24, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I hope that my grandchildren & great-grandchildren can emerge from these harrowing times unscathed by the #Corruption evident around us. I hope they can see through all the #Lies & obfuscation disseminated on #SocialMedia. Now, I can only lead by example & offer guidance based on my life experience.
So disappointing to realize that I won’t live to see equal representation of women in government. There was so much energy behind #EqualityForWomen in the 1970s. If the promise of true 50-50 equality had been realized, it would have been much more difficult for tyranny to have taken hold in the U.S.
a sign that says women still don t have equal rights in the constitution
Alt: A moving cartoon-like image, in which a quill pen draws on an image of the U.S. Constitution. The words on the image read, “women still don’t have equal rights in the constitution.”
media.tenor.com
March 22, 2025 at 12:58 AM
So disappointing to realize that I won’t live to see equal representation of women in government. There was so much energy behind #EqualityForWomen in the 1970s. If the promise of true 50-50 equality had been realized, it would have been much more difficult for tyranny to have taken hold in the U.S.
One can draw a straight line from #Education to #Compassion for other people. Even without world travel, we can obtain a rich & vast education. We have an obligation to educate ourselves & our children. Those who thwart that goal are unworthy of our respect and of holding leadership positions.
an open book with the words educate yourself written above it
Alt: A moving image of an open book with the words, “educate yourself” written above it. In the background is a moving stream of ideas floating up from the open book.
media.tenor.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
One can draw a straight line from #Education to #Compassion for other people. Even without world travel, we can obtain a rich & vast education. We have an obligation to educate ourselves & our children. Those who thwart that goal are unworthy of our respect and of holding leadership positions.
I hope my grandchildren develop an interest in #OldMovies made on a grand scale for the big screen. They’ll use modern sensibilities to interpret the content, but can still enjoy the grandeur of epics like Lawrence of Arabia. Experiencing these films with others in a darkened #Theater is unmatched
a man in a suit and tie is running in a field with a small plane flying in the background
Alt: A famous scene from director Alfred Hitchcock’s epic film “North by Northwest,” in which our hero, played by actor Cary Grant, is running for his life across a barren field while a bi-plane is bearing down on him from behind, intent on killing him. The actor and the plane are heading straight towards the viewer.
media.tenor.com
March 20, 2025 at 1:26 AM
I hope my grandchildren develop an interest in #OldMovies made on a grand scale for the big screen. They’ll use modern sensibilities to interpret the content, but can still enjoy the grandeur of epics like Lawrence of Arabia. Experiencing these films with others in a darkened #Theater is unmatched
It’s a bit comical to have an earlier bedtime than my great-grandchildren, but that privilege comes with age. Enjoy a full night’s sleep while you’re young, because, at my age, it’s not in the cards. I don’t count sheep, but I do take mental strolls through lovely gardens during sleepless nights
a lush green garden with a stone path and a statue
Alt: A color image of a lush green garden with a stone path leading to a statue inside a fountain in the distance. Moving across the foreground of the image are moving images of translucent butterflies.
media.tenor.com
March 18, 2025 at 1:08 AM
It’s a bit comical to have an earlier bedtime than my great-grandchildren, but that privilege comes with age. Enjoy a full night’s sleep while you’re young, because, at my age, it’s not in the cards. I don’t count sheep, but I do take mental strolls through lovely gardens during sleepless nights
Old schoolmates sometimes post photos on social media from our youth. It’s odd how these photos bring up such clear memories. Anyone who attended Catholic primary school back in the day will surely relate to reciting the times tables together, led by an imposing nun. I can still recite them all!
Ruler Nun GIF
Alt: An animated gif of a Catholic nun, in a black and white habit, who is shaking her head back and forth, holding a measuring stick in her right hand, and tapping the stick on her left hand.
media.tenor.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Old schoolmates sometimes post photos on social media from our youth. It’s odd how these photos bring up such clear memories. Anyone who attended Catholic primary school back in the day will surely relate to reciting the times tables together, led by an imposing nun. I can still recite them all!
It’s obvious now that my great-granddaughters & I will never experience the same #AmericanSociety. I wonder which #AmericanIdeals will survive. Honor? Duty? Truthfulness? Hard work? Devotion to family? Helping those in need? Will they, as women, always be crushed under the weight of oppression?
a black and white photo of a woman singing in a movie .
Alt: A film clip, in black and white, showing a serious woman with long hair stating, “The more oppression you face, the higher you must hold your head!”
media.tenor.com
March 16, 2025 at 1:24 AM
It’s obvious now that my great-granddaughters & I will never experience the same #AmericanSociety. I wonder which #AmericanIdeals will survive. Honor? Duty? Truthfulness? Hard work? Devotion to family? Helping those in need? Will they, as women, always be crushed under the weight of oppression?
I’m so grateful to my granddaughter for setting aside time to take me on little “excursions”. I know how lucky I am to live with my loving and supportive #Family, and I’m well aware that there are so many #Elderly who have no one. As a society, we must do better for our vulnerable seniors.
an elderly woman in a wheelchair is holding a sign that says " when the rich pay their fair share "
Alt: A colorful cartoon-like drawing of a nursing aide pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair. They are holding signs that read, “When the rich pay their fair share, our elderly can get better care.”
media.tenor.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:31 AM
It’s difficult for someone my age to embrace fully the adoption of visual & audio learning, as opposed to #Reading. Having a reader’s voice forced on me removes the inventiveness of my own inner voice. The breathtaking advantages of visual learning should be paired with abundant and joyful reading
a drawing of an open book and a cup of tea with the words drink tea read books be happy
Alt: A drawing of an open book and a teacup sitting on a saucer with the words, “drink tea, read books, be happy”appearing at the top of the image. Painted on the teacup is a red heart.
media.tenor.com
March 14, 2025 at 1:25 AM
It’s difficult for someone my age to embrace fully the adoption of visual & audio learning, as opposed to #Reading. Having a reader’s voice forced on me removes the inventiveness of my own inner voice. The breathtaking advantages of visual learning should be paired with abundant and joyful reading
When I visit my local #SeniorCenter, why am I so wary of bringing up the alarming state of U.S. affairs? I’m certain of my facts, but I don’t venture to get into “good trouble” there. Maybe there are allies there who see the danger to #Democracy as I do & would join with me in voicing their concerns
a group of people are playing a game of mahjong with dice .
Alt: A close-up video clip of four people playing a game of mahjong. Their faces are not shown, only the table, the tiles, and their hands.
media.tenor.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:56 AM
When I visit my local #SeniorCenter, why am I so wary of bringing up the alarming state of U.S. affairs? I’m certain of my facts, but I don’t venture to get into “good trouble” there. Maybe there are allies there who see the danger to #Democracy as I do & would join with me in voicing their concerns
Driving with my granddaughter this Winter, we noticed people standing in the bitter cold waiting for the bus at stops that weren’t cleared of snow. Also, hardly any bus stops had shelters. Our representatives need to focus on #PublicTransportation and provide funds for much-needed improvements.
a woman in a fur coat walks down a snow covered street
Alt: A woman in a winter coat walks down a snow-covered street, with cars and trees lining the sides of the street. Another person is walking in the distance ahead of her.
media.tenor.com
March 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Driving with my granddaughter this Winter, we noticed people standing in the bitter cold waiting for the bus at stops that weren’t cleared of snow. Also, hardly any bus stops had shelters. Our representatives need to focus on #PublicTransportation and provide funds for much-needed improvements.
For many elderly my age, #MealsOnWheels can mean the difference between a lonely and difficult existence and a fulfilling life that is free from fear. I ran across a 2023 report that demonstrated the positive impact of Meals on Wheels on Americans’ lives www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/r...
March 11, 2025 at 12:58 AM
For many elderly my age, #MealsOnWheels can mean the difference between a lonely and difficult existence and a fulfilling life that is free from fear. I ran across a 2023 report that demonstrated the positive impact of Meals on Wheels on Americans’ lives www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/r...
Thinking about what my late husband would have said about events unfolding in the U.S. As a retired Army officer, he would be concerned about experienced top-tier officers being forced out by inexperienced civilians. His hope would be that active duty would #honor their oaths to the #Constitution
a poster that says " we the people " on it
Alt: A moving image of the top page of a weathered copy of the U.S. Constitution with the heading, “we the people”.
media.tenor.com
March 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Thinking about what my late husband would have said about events unfolding in the U.S. As a retired Army officer, he would be concerned about experienced top-tier officers being forced out by inexperienced civilians. His hope would be that active duty would #honor their oaths to the #Constitution
With age, I sometimes nod off for a short snooze in the living-room recliner during the day. It’s always a special joy to awaken slowly to the sounds of giggles from my great-grandchildren that drift up as they play a game or color together, while sitting on the floor near my chair #FamilyJoy
a boy and two girls are sitting next to each other on the floor .
Alt: Two little girls and a little boy are smiling and sitting next to each other on the floor. The intent is to show siblings having fun together. The image is a moving clip that ends with the three children hugging.
media.tenor.com
March 8, 2025 at 2:47 AM
With age, I sometimes nod off for a short snooze in the living-room recliner during the day. It’s always a special joy to awaken slowly to the sounds of giggles from my great-grandchildren that drift up as they play a game or color together, while sitting on the floor near my chair #FamilyJoy
