Dear Reader:

Have you noticed how popular Ben Franklin’s quote about our republic has become …pre-election? The story, behind it, goes that Old Ben was leaving the Constitutional Convention after the final vote had been taken. A woman came scurrying up to him to ask ” Well, doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?”

Franklin’s response was both witty and ominous… ” A republic, if you can keep it.” ( And Paws!)

John Adams was pretty ” ominous” also… when he alluded to the fact that democracy depended on ” decency and respect” above everything else. He feared that some members might ” try to obtain influence by noise, not sense, by meanest, not greatness, by ignorance, not learning, and by contracted hearts, not large souls… there must be ” decency and respect.”

My personal affinity to John Adams was one quote that spoke to me… As President he had the opportunity to meet the wisest ” sages” and ” celebrities ” of his time but he discovered that none of them held his “love or admiration”… he concluded ” I should prefer the delights of a garden to the dominion of a world.” (Me too!)

Election Day! Finally! Since I voted early I am spending today baby sitting grandchildren so mom can vote. My happy contribution to democracy and the preserved freedoms for my future genealogy … my grandchildren and their children…and so on…

Together … together… all Americans… let us believe in the ” force of love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never us go.”

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Let’s vote to ensure our freedoms remain with the people and for the people… and that our Bill of Rights stands strong for the future Americans to come. Have a wonderful Election Day! Aren’t we lucky to live in America?