Who in your family is the keeper of family traditions and memories? Who shares the stories about your loved ones who are no longer here in person, keeping their spirits alive and making sure your younger generations know how special, quirky, funny, (or weird!) they were? For us, it is so important our younger ones know about “Mamaw and Papaw,” or that their 5x Great Grandfather Elijah fought for the Union cause out of Peach Orchard, KY, had a battlefield amputation at the Battle of Saltville, and was POW before becoming a successful farmer in spite of poor soil and faithful lay preacher. We have come to realize that WE are now those folks in our family: the standard bearers of memory responsible for passing along our heritage to younger kin. What grief to see the elders are now mostly gone! It is a shock and a lament to realize all they took with them. And then, a poignant honor to step into the role they so had well filled: knitting us all together through stories of previous times. We sisters love to swap memories. Our conversations, in any setting, are peppered with references to our childhoods (just don’t mention “Beverly” and “waterskiing” to Ashley because she will reliably wet herself laughing). So we now, joyfully and solemnly, commit ourselves in our family to the role of Keeper of Memories and Passers On of Tradition.
Happy 60th Birthday to the Best Sister! May your day be joyous, may your heart be free, & I am grateful for the picture- perfect day God gave us for your day, our quiet time this afternoon, and I’m eager for your special evening tonight! I love you, Sister!
My beloved Pop and I are chasms apart politically (Mom was, too, although secretly, she could be pretty radical! Shhhhh!). Pop is way over yonder, and I am way out in left field! And yet, in this conversation—on the day I published my essay in USA Today excoriating his presidential candidate (he actually sat with me as I wrote that essay yesterday, out here on our back porch, we are living together this summer)—we visited about our joyful commitment never to allow anything to come between us: Not Donald Trump. Not Joe Biden. Not even my Nasty Women Poem at the Women’s March. Not even his position on….everything? Or my positions on….anything? We hope you will listen in. We are so aware so many American families are riven by their different takes on where America should go, and how to get there. We are so grateful we, years ago, found our way after finally giving up on trying to change//convert//scorn each other to being in a different story. A story of cherishing every day together, caring for each other in deed and word, being very intentional about making more memories together, and expanding the values we do have in common, such as: Family matters. Our shared past is hallowed ground. You are uniquely special in my life story and heart. And I stand with you and by you. Presidential candidates come and go. Every four years, it seems. Our affection and love is permanent, and we live it together on a daily basis. (Hey. Since we are living together, maybe we can put up yard signs in our yard? Side by side?) (PS Sister is on the road with her concert touring, or she would be in this video with us. She blesses this conversation!) (PPS: Ever wonder if you ran for office if your opposing family would vote for you? Pop answers that question in the video.)
I apologize deeply that the slide may be so easily misinterpreted. My feeling & value I am expressing is, “just because I don’t support a candidate doesn’t mean I would ever, ever want them, or anyone harmed.” I am so sorry it came out clumsily & that some misread my intention. I ask for your grace. Thank you, all, who are exercising the goodness of your humanity in this fraught moment. I have also seen comments here that appalled me. I will not host such inappropriate incivility. Comments are off.
I apologize deeply that the slide may be so easily misinterpreted. My feeling & value I am expressing is, “just because I don’t support a candidate doesn’t mean I would ever, ever want them, or anyone harmed.” I am so sorry it came out clumsily & that some misread my intention. I ask for your grace. Thank you, all, who are exercising the goodness of your humanity in this fraught moment. I have also seen comments here that appalled me. I will not host such inappropriate incivility. Comments are off.
I love being a woman, and I cherish the little girl who is still alive inside of me. On #InternationalDayofTheGirl, I get on my knees to give thanks for every girl I have ever met, who has ever allowed me to hold her hand, squeeze her close, stroke and braid her hair, climb a tree, and turn a kart-wheel. I cherish every secret that has been shared, fear divulged, wish made, and dream spoken aloud. Worldwide, girls still suffer for being girls. They do 160 million more hours of household chores than their brothers. They are given less food. They are held back from starting or attending school consistently, or drop out when they begin to menstruate. Many are sexually abused and forced into child marriage. They cannot choose if, when, and how many children to have.
To girls around the world, I hope I have, and will continue, to live up to the sacred responsibility of being your friend. At a time when there is so much darkness, I look at the light in your faces when we are connected faces and am reminded of the hope for our future. @unfpa
I love being a woman, and I cherish the little girl who is still alive inside of me. On #InternationalDayofTheGirl, I get on my knees to give thanks for every girl I have ever met, who has ever allowed me to hold her hand, squeeze her close, stroke and braid her hair, climb a tree, and turn a kart-wheel. I cherish every secret that has been shared, fear divulged, wish made, and dream spoken aloud. Worldwide, girls still suffer for being girls. They do 160 million more hours of household chores than their brothers. They are given less food. They are held back from starting or attending school consistently, or drop out when they begin to menstruate. Many are sexually abused and forced into child marriage. They cannot choose if, when, and how many children to have.
To girls around the world, I hope I have, and will continue, to live up to the sacred responsibility of being your friend. At a time when there is so much darkness, I look at the light in your faces when we are connected faces and am reminded of the hope for our future. @unfpa
I love being a woman, and I cherish the little girl who is still alive inside of me. On #InternationalDayofTheGirl, I get on my knees to give thanks for every girl I have ever met, who has ever allowed me to hold her hand, squeeze her close, stroke and braid her hair, climb a tree, and turn a kart-wheel. I cherish every secret that has been shared, fear divulged, wish made, and dream spoken aloud. Worldwide, girls still suffer for being girls. They do 160 million more hours of household chores than their brothers. They are given less food. They are held back from starting or attending school consistently, or drop out when they begin to menstruate. Many are sexually abused and forced into child marriage. They cannot choose if, when, and how many children to have.
To girls around the world, I hope I have, and will continue, to live up to the sacred responsibility of being your friend. At a time when there is so much darkness, I look at the light in your faces when we are connected faces and am reminded of the hope for our future. @unfpa
I love being a woman, and I cherish the little girl who is still alive inside of me. On #InternationalDayofTheGirl, I get on my knees to give thanks for every girl I have ever met, who has ever allowed me to hold her hand, squeeze her close, stroke and braid her hair, climb a tree, and turn a kart-wheel. I cherish every secret that has been shared, fear divulged, wish made, and dream spoken aloud. Worldwide, girls still suffer for being girls. They do 160 million more hours of household chores than their brothers. They are given less food. They are held back from starting or attending school consistently, or drop out when they begin to menstruate. Many are sexually abused and forced into child marriage. They cannot choose if, when, and how many children to have.
To girls around the world, I hope I have, and will continue, to live up to the sacred responsibility of being your friend. At a time when there is so much darkness, I look at the light in your faces when we are connected faces and am reminded of the hope for our future. @unfpa
I love being a woman, and I cherish the little girl who is still alive inside of me. On #InternationalDayofTheGirl, I get on my knees to give thanks for every girl I have ever met, who has ever allowed me to hold her hand, squeeze her close, stroke and braid her hair, climb a tree, and turn a kart-wheel. I cherish every secret that has been shared, fear divulged, wish made, and dream spoken aloud. Worldwide, girls still suffer for being girls. They do 160 million more hours of household chores than their brothers. They are given less food. They are held back from starting or attending school consistently, or drop out when they begin to menstruate. Many are sexually abused and forced into child marriage. They cannot choose if, when, and how many children to have.
To girls around the world, I hope I have, and will continue, to live up to the sacred responsibility of being your friend. At a time when there is so much darkness, I look at the light in your faces when we are connected faces and am reminded of the hope for our future. @unfpa
I love being a woman, and I cherish the little girl who is still alive inside of me. On #InternationalDayofTheGirl, I get on my knees to give thanks for every girl I have ever met, who has ever allowed me to hold her hand, squeeze her close, stroke and braid her hair, climb a tree, and turn a kart-wheel. I cherish every secret that has been shared, fear divulged, wish made, and dream spoken aloud. Worldwide, girls still suffer for being girls. They do 160 million more hours of household chores than their brothers. They are given less food. They are held back from starting or attending school consistently, or drop out when they begin to menstruate. Many are sexually abused and forced into child marriage. They cannot choose if, when, and how many children to have.
To girls around the world, I hope I have, and will continue, to live up to the sacred responsibility of being your friend. At a time when there is so much darkness, I look at the light in your faces when we are connected faces and am reminded of the hope for our future. @unfpa
Today I published an essay in @usatoday. I hope you might read the whole piece. Yes, it is about what I believe is the deeply urgent imperative that a Democrat be voted into the office of President this November. It is about how I respect and honor President Biden, a deeply decent man, and feel immense gratitude for all that has been gained. I particularly acknowledge his multi-decade commitment to ending male violence against women. It is about how, at this infection point, I kindly and firmly invite him to voluntarily, gracefully step aside, creating space for a talented, robust Democrat to ensure the incalculable and unprecedented cruelty of a second Trump administration does not inflict harm upon millions of Americans, especially the more vulnerable among us. And this essay is about more. I hope you will see that. It is also about family, living in more rural places, and how we can, should and must stand up for what we believe in as individuals—and find a way, somehow, someway, to hold our dearest loved ones closer than we hold political beliefs. Yes, I want to beat the other guy in November. And I also really want to beat my Pop at Canasta this evening after supper, sitting out on the back porch, with the lightening bugs’ magic and the song of the cicadas. I fight for my beliefs. But I don’t fight with my family about politics. I love them too much to do that. With family, I am less invested in who is right and who is wrong. I am much more invested in what is true. Because family love is true.
Today I published an essay in @usatoday. I hope you might read the whole piece. Yes, it is about what I believe is the deeply urgent imperative that a Democrat be voted into the office of President this November. It is about how I respect and honor President Biden, a deeply decent man, and feel immense gratitude for all that has been gained. I particularly acknowledge his multi-decade commitment to ending male violence against women. It is about how, at this infection point, I kindly and firmly invite him to voluntarily, gracefully step aside, creating space for a talented, robust Democrat to ensure the incalculable and unprecedented cruelty of a second Trump administration does not inflict harm upon millions of Americans, especially the more vulnerable among us. And this essay is about more. I hope you will see that. It is also about family, living in more rural places, and how we can, should and must stand up for what we believe in as individuals—and find a way, somehow, someway, to hold our dearest loved ones closer than we hold political beliefs. Yes, I want to beat the other guy in November. And I also really want to beat my Pop at Canasta this evening after supper, sitting out on the back porch, with the lightening bugs’ magic and the song of the cicadas. I fight for my beliefs. But I don’t fight with my family about politics. I love them too much to do that. With family, I am less invested in who is right and who is wrong. I am much more invested in what is true. Because family love is true.
Today I published an essay in @usatoday. I hope you might read the whole piece. Yes, it is about what I believe is the deeply urgent imperative that a Democrat be voted into the office of President this November. It is about how I respect and honor President Biden, a deeply decent man, and feel immense gratitude for all that has been gained. I particularly acknowledge his multi-decade commitment to ending male violence against women. It is about how, at this infection point, I kindly and firmly invite him to voluntarily, gracefully step aside, creating space for a talented, robust Democrat to ensure the incalculable and unprecedented cruelty of a second Trump administration does not inflict harm upon millions of Americans, especially the more vulnerable among us. And this essay is about more. I hope you will see that. It is also about family, living in more rural places, and how we can, should and must stand up for what we believe in as individuals—and find a way, somehow, someway, to hold our dearest loved ones closer than we hold political beliefs. Yes, I want to beat the other guy in November. And I also really want to beat my Pop at Canasta this evening after supper, sitting out on the back porch, with the lightening bugs’ magic and the song of the cicadas. I fight for my beliefs. But I don’t fight with my family about politics. I love them too much to do that. With family, I am less invested in who is right and who is wrong. I am much more invested in what is true. Because family love is true.
Today I published an essay in @usatoday. I hope you might read the whole piece. Yes, it is about what I believe is the deeply urgent imperative that a Democrat be voted into the office of President this November. It is about how I respect and honor President Biden, a deeply decent man, and feel immense gratitude for all that has been gained. I particularly acknowledge his multi-decade commitment to ending male violence against women. It is about how, at this infection point, I kindly and firmly invite him to voluntarily, gracefully step aside, creating space for a talented, robust Democrat to ensure the incalculable and unprecedented cruelty of a second Trump administration does not inflict harm upon millions of Americans, especially the more vulnerable among us. And this essay is about more. I hope you will see that. It is also about family, living in more rural places, and how we can, should and must stand up for what we believe in as individuals—and find a way, somehow, someway, to hold our dearest loved ones closer than we hold political beliefs. Yes, I want to beat the other guy in November. And I also really want to beat my Pop at Canasta this evening after supper, sitting out on the back porch, with the lightening bugs’ magic and the song of the cicadas. I fight for my beliefs. But I don’t fight with my family about politics. I love them too much to do that. With family, I am less invested in who is right and who is wrong. I am much more invested in what is true. Because family love is true.
Today I published an essay in @usatoday. I hope you might read the whole piece. Yes, it is about what I believe is the deeply urgent imperative that a Democrat be voted into the office of President this November. It is about how I respect and honor President Biden, a deeply decent man, and feel immense gratitude for all that has been gained. I particularly acknowledge his multi-decade commitment to ending male violence against women. It is about how, at this infection point, I kindly and firmly invite him to voluntarily, gracefully step aside, creating space for a talented, robust Democrat to ensure the incalculable and unprecedented cruelty of a second Trump administration does not inflict harm upon millions of Americans, especially the more vulnerable among us. And this essay is about more. I hope you will see that. It is also about family, living in more rural places, and how we can, should and must stand up for what we believe in as individuals—and find a way, somehow, someway, to hold our dearest loved ones closer than we hold political beliefs. Yes, I want to beat the other guy in November. And I also really want to beat my Pop at Canasta this evening after supper, sitting out on the back porch, with the lightening bugs’ magic and the song of the cicadas. I fight for my beliefs. But I don’t fight with my family about politics. I love them too much to do that. With family, I am less invested in who is right and who is wrong. I am much more invested in what is true. Because family love is true.
Today I published an essay in @usatoday. I hope you might read the whole piece. Yes, it is about what I believe is the deeply urgent imperative that a Democrat be voted into the office of President this November. It is about how I respect and honor President Biden, a deeply decent man, and feel immense gratitude for all that has been gained. I particularly acknowledge his multi-decade commitment to ending male violence against women. It is about how, at this infection point, I kindly and firmly invite him to voluntarily, gracefully step aside, creating space for a talented, robust Democrat to ensure the incalculable and unprecedented cruelty of a second Trump administration does not inflict harm upon millions of Americans, especially the more vulnerable among us. And this essay is about more. I hope you will see that. It is also about family, living in more rural places, and how we can, should and must stand up for what we believe in as individuals—and find a way, somehow, someway, to hold our dearest loved ones closer than we hold political beliefs. Yes, I want to beat the other guy in November. And I also really want to beat my Pop at Canasta this evening after supper, sitting out on the back porch, with the lightening bugs’ magic and the song of the cicadas. I fight for my beliefs. But I don’t fight with my family about politics. I love them too much to do that. With family, I am less invested in who is right and who is wrong. I am much more invested in what is true. Because family love is true.
Bluegrass music on a Sweet Sabbath Sunday. The music of my soul. Station Inn has bluegrass gospel every Sunday. Pop sings with Val Storey and her pickers! He invited me to join and sing! Appalachian music is my heart. That “stranded on a desert island” question? I would only need bluegrass for all eternity. (Beethoven’s violin concerto is 2nd.) Blaine, KY: The old Judd homeplace, is also where Bluegrass legend Larry Cordle is from! I said to Mr. Larry, “Shirt Tail Branch….” and he completed my phrase: “….of Little Blaine.” Y’all that is a CREEK we are talking about it, and he knows and loves it! I remember clogging at bluegrass festivals as a child. (Anyone else ever clogged? Or done any “hollering?”) Pop and I then shared strawberry shortcake. I am replete. Music suggestions to start you with: Larry Sparks and Ricky Skaggs (try “Where the Soul of Man Never Dies”), and Patty Loveless “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”
Bluegrass music on a Sweet Sabbath Sunday. The music of my soul. Station Inn has bluegrass gospel every Sunday. Pop sings with Val Storey and her pickers! He invited me to join and sing! Appalachian music is my heart. That “stranded on a desert island” question? I would only need bluegrass for all eternity. (Beethoven’s violin concerto is 2nd.) Blaine, KY: The old Judd homeplace, is also where Bluegrass legend Larry Cordle is from! I said to Mr. Larry, “Shirt Tail Branch….” and he completed my phrase: “….of Little Blaine.” Y’all that is a CREEK we are talking about it, and he knows and loves it! I remember clogging at bluegrass festivals as a child. (Anyone else ever clogged? Or done any “hollering?”) Pop and I then shared strawberry shortcake. I am replete. Music suggestions to start you with: Larry Sparks and Ricky Skaggs (try “Where the Soul of Man Never Dies”), and Patty Loveless “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”
The. Greatest. Band. In. The. World. Here as their guests for 2 days. They took my in as a 19 year old in Paris on #joshuatree while I was there studying. One of the gifts is my life. We share faith. JOY unrestrained. More pictures coming & less wiggly live tonight. @u2 @sphere Vegas
On #WorldMentalHealthDay, I find myself reflecting on how we can take care of ourselves, in big ways and small. We all deserve the time to sit, breathe, and be present with ourselves to change the things we can and be more at peace with the things we cannot. For me this week, I’ve been able to be in sustained peace, in Maine, watching the autumn sunrises and sunsets.
Today is a reminder to give yourself what you need first so you can give back to your friends, family, and community with love and strength. How do you show up for yourself? Self care isn’t selfish. It is self esteem. And we can only provide to others what we, ourselves, posses.
June was good to me. It was replete with basking in the soothing and healing properties of nature, and being in community with like-minded fellows with whom I share the important, determined walk toward the full equality of girls and women. June began in my Avalon, the Great Smoky Mountains, with my sister and our partners, where we sat beside (and in) rushing mountain rivers and laughed until we cried, as well as had poignant reminiscences of generations of family stories. Next was Lopez Island, off the coast of Washington state, where I was in awe of women from around the world doing extraordinary conservation and climate work in every type of ecosystem: Sumatra, Chile, Kenya, & more. Check out @daughters4earth! Next, I joined the good folks in Richmond, VA, for the second anniversary of SCOTUS overturning our constitutional right to abortion and the various, very real threats to pregnancy safety. Looking back on June, I am grateful that I am able to prioritize my wellness, living my values and ideals. Looking forward making mire meaning in July.
June was good to me. It was replete with basking in the soothing and healing properties of nature, and being in community with like-minded fellows with whom I share the important, determined walk toward the full equality of girls and women. June began in my Avalon, the Great Smoky Mountains, with my sister and our partners, where we sat beside (and in) rushing mountain rivers and laughed until we cried, as well as had poignant reminiscences of generations of family stories. Next was Lopez Island, off the coast of Washington state, where I was in awe of women from around the world doing extraordinary conservation and climate work in every type of ecosystem: Sumatra, Chile, Kenya, & more. Check out @daughters4earth! Next, I joined the good folks in Richmond, VA, for the second anniversary of SCOTUS overturning our constitutional right to abortion and the various, very real threats to pregnancy safety. Looking back on June, I am grateful that I am able to prioritize my wellness, living my values and ideals. Looking forward making mire meaning in July.
When asked what gives her hope, @Ashley_Judd shares a beautiful answer. Hear from her and her chosen family on the latest episode of #HouseCallswithVivekMurthy today: bit.ly/3ZO2DZq
