Like everything these days, there is good news and bad news, depending sometimes on your point of view!

The big headline of February 13 is that Donald Trump has been acquitted in his impeachment trial. All 50 Democrats and 7 Republicans voted ‘guilty,’ falling 10 votes short of the two-thirds necessary for conviction. Mitch McConnell (Republican), Senate minority leader and perhaps the most powerful Republican in Washington, followed his own vote to acquit with a surprisingly harsh speech calling Trump ‘practically and morally responsible for provoking’ the Capitol riot. However you feel about the decision, I think we can agree that our Constitution is sacred, our Capitol building is the symbol of our democracy, and that it is up to all of us to protect and defend our nation from desecration and chaos by coming together, showing a little more kindness and mercy. We can be peacemakers.

This past week, February 7, 2021, we lost a former leader who spent his last years at Stanford University: George P. Schultz, who presided with a steady hand over the beginning of the end of the Cold War as President Ronald Reagan’s often embattled secretary of state, died on Saturday at his home in Stanford, Calif. He was 100. His death was announced by the Hoover Institution, where he was a distinguished fellow. He was also professor emeritus at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.Mr. Schultz, who had served Republican presidents since Dwight D. Eisenhower, moved to California after leaving Washington in January 1989. He continued writing and speaking on issues ranging from nuclear weapons to climate change into his late 90s, expressing concern about America’s direction.

I finally was able to get my first Covid vaccination (Pfizer) and will have the second on February 25. Hooray!! I think we all have felt the isolation and loneliness of restricted interaction with friends and family and with all the limitations on our normal lives. I hope, though that we are still practicing safety and precaution, as much as we dislike wearing masks! I have wanted to give hugs, but have had to content myself with at least being in the same state as my kids and grand kids and seeing some of their activities. I have enjoyed hiking, walking, watching a grand-daughter in her school play (limited guests and well-distanced), another come in second-all-around in her gymnastics meet (less well distanced!), another spending time with me doing puzzles and playing games after school.(Ming Lu's high school is a few blocks from my Airbnb so she stops on her way home). With another I painted pottery.  With Peter, Cordelia and Rebecca, with whom I spent the first week. (below) With Marc and Evie in South Jordan. With Hannah at her gym meet. The snowy mountains (including Mt. Timpanogos, above) are breath-taking, the ice and snow on my car a little less appealing! I just hunker down and catch up on the reading I passed up in the process of moving. And I don't know my way around Provo, Utah yet, anyway. I'm grateful for zoom to stay connected to my Palo Alto church ward, writing class, English students, siblings, and children and grandchildren that I can't see in person right now; and to tune in to so many classes, talks, concerts, and lectures. I have a park behind my place, a Costco now far away, and family waiting to visit. I appreciate all the cards, messages, and love I feel from family and friends near and far. And for new people who have reached out to help me feel welcome as I wait patiently (?) the sale of my house so I can buy a new one. The park behind my basement lodgings is covered in slushy snow today! ***************************************************************** In our limited Pandemic shopping and interactions, Michelle Craig, a general young women's leader of our church, reminds us that we still need to open our eyes and reach out to others. I love the poignant story she related in a recent address: As I pray for the Lord to open my eyes to see things I might not normally see, I often ask myself two questions and pay attention to the impressions that come: “What am I doing that I should stop doing?” and “What am I not doing that I should start doing?”6 Months ago, I asked myself these questions and was surprised by the impression that came. “Stop looking at your phone when you are waiting in lines.” Looking at my phone in lines had become almost automatic; I found it a good time to multitask, catch up on email, look at headlines, or scroll through a social media feed. The next morning, I found myself waiting in a long line at the store. I pulled out my phone and then remembered the impression I had received. I put my phone away and looked around. I saw an elderly gentleman in line ahead of me. His cart was empty except for a few cans of cat food. I felt a little awkward but said something really clever like, “I can see you have a cat.” He said that a storm was coming, and he did not want to be caught without cat food. We visited briefly, and then he turned to me and said, “You know, I haven’t told anyone this, but today is my birthday.” My heart melted. I wished him a happy birthday and offered a silent prayer of thanks that I had not been on my phone and missed an opportunity to truly see and connect with another person who needed it. (I'm grateful for my phone and computer, but let's open our eyes to people around us!) Happy Valentine's Day! I would make you cookies or give you flowers, but I have no kitchen and am TOO far away. Thanks for your friendship! Love, Miriam