Dear HoneyBlossom:

Crazy times indeed. Last night I said something similar: the world has gone mad!

I read about the floods in East Australia yesterday and thought about you, but knowing how big Australia is, I figured it’s likely not where you are, similar to severe weather events on the US east coast, not being anywhere close to where I am, on the west coast. Here, the next threat is severe mud slides following lots of rain.

Zelinsky is a breath of fresh air, it makes me feel better to know that there is such a thing as a leader who is also a decent person, displaying integrity, courage and care for his fellow human beings. I sure hope that your optimism regarding the situation in Ukraine deescalating and Putin being out of power soon comes true!

This is what Trump said about Putin last week: “I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine — Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful… You gotta say that’s pretty savvy.” The next day, he said: “he’s taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s pretty smart. He’s taking over a country, really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people and just walking right in.”

So, a US former president who suggested that he wants to be president again in 2 years and who has enough supporters to make it a possibility, referred to Putin AFTER PUTIN INVADED UKRAINE as genius, wonderful, savvy and pretty smart. As I read, one of Putin’s calculations in regard to invading Ukraine was that too many Americans, including the former and likely perhaps, next president- support him. I hope that worldwide, a stronger, decent democracy wins over autocracy.

I hope you are sleeping well and that your appointment with the surgeon today goes well!

anita