Dear Joanie,

    It's been about 5 weeks since I've written. In some ways, everything is the same. It's still a COVID world out there. Because we're high risk--we're old, and your great-grandfather has cancer--we very much self isolate. I shop for groceries every two weeks, early morning hours for high risk people. I still always wear a mask. We do not go out to eat, even though all restaurants are required to distance their customers, and all workers wear masks.  Dougie, your great granddad, goes to doctor appointments only. 

    There are advantages to living in the mountains. It's still warm enough to sit outside. The aspen are beginning  to change colors, and in a week it will be a splendid golden world out there.

Fall 2020: The Aspen in the Mountains

    I so enjoy getting photos and videos of you almost daily. The latest video shows you in your carriage talking, in your own language, the whole journey to wherever you're going. You are truly engaging with the world. I still have not idea when we'll meet. The COVID deaths in the United States now number over 200,000. That number is quite possibly lower than the actual deaths. 

    Here is the most important news this week.  The Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died on Friday. I am certain that you will learn about her from your parents and grandparents and especially in school. She is possibly the most important Supreme Court Justice we have ever had. Her life is remarkable in every way, but especially in the work she did for gender equality and for women's rights. She was intelligent, thoughtful, articulate, humorous, strong, persistent, and probably the most admired and respected person in the United States.  We would love to see you follow in her footsteps. You both share the same first name, actually: Joan (a little know fact). 

    Sadly, she had hoped to live until the next president would be in office. Our election is now about six weeks away. As I've said before, we are at a time when democracy in this country is greatly challenged. We have a corrupt administration and a president who acts like a second--grader on the playground--wanting to have his way, making his own rules, insulting people, especially women, with coarse epithets. He believes he has been made king, and perhaps that is so, since Congress, especially the Senate Republicans, bow and scrape to him and lick his boots and elsewhere. We have lost the balance of power. So, a nominee to take Justice Ginsberg's place will be put before the Senate, even though we are so close to an election and even though those same senators blocked President Obama's nominee because it was an election year.  Have I mentioned hypocrisy?  I'll keep you informed.

    I'm beginning to wonder when and how we will meet one another in person. What will you think of these two old people, your great-grandparents? We are so proud to be part of your family. 

    We are definitely living in strange and challenging times. We have unprecedented wildfires in the West and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm working hard to make this world a safe place for you. I have great hope that soon we will begin to think of the future of people your age and move forward to preserve the loveliness and beauty of this world. 

        Love,

        G. Katie