April 6, 2025

Dear Elon –

Oh, gosh, I really wish you had consulted with me before going to Wisconsin last week. I know some of those folks from the nation’s dairyland, and they do NOT take kindly to outsiders wearing the sacred Cheese Head Hat inappropriately. Of course, it is difficult to know just how to behave in a foreign culture (in this case, proud, hardworking, midwestern non-billionaires), but I have found that it always pays to spend a little time with local folks and learn a bit about them, their values, their customs, their culture. Oops, have I stepped in it again – using one of those banned words? So sorry if “culture” is on that list and I have triggered you. Try taking a deep breath or two, and think of something beautiful like a protest of 30,000 energetic Americans, or a hungry child diving into a nice nutritious meal, or a parent getting an email saying they have their job back…well, you may have your own pleasant thoughts, but those are some of mine.  

Turning to my 5-things-I-did this week, it was a whirlwind of activity:

1. I was in Washington DC on April 5, but missed the rally because I was working that day with a group of conflict resolution graduate students. There were six of us experienced practitioners and it really gave us hope to spend time with the younger generation, all of us together reflecting on our role as mediators and the challenges of making peace in these times. It was inspiring for everyone, and deep friendships were forged in just a few hours. A footnote: I’m getting tired of apologizing for my vocabulary which seems to be loaded with trigger words. Just in this paragraph alone I suspect there are four: peace, conflict, resolution and mediator. And if I come up with substitute words (like calm, differences, solve, helper?), I’m sure we will end up playing whack-a-mole. So, I suggest a truce…or maybe whack-a-mole is a favorite pastime of yours?  
2. I watched some of Cory Booker’s 25+ hour phenomenal performance on the state of our country. I was amazed by his stamina, passion and commitment to say what we need to hear. I was inspired to work harder and I called his office to thank him. He is such a kind, caring, generous human being — don’t you think he has the makings of a great leader?
3. I decided to look for the little guys – groups doing great work that have been hit hard by the loss of federal funding – and I found the Borderlands Restoration Network in Arizona. They are committed to restoring, rebuilding, and reconnecting the land, the resources, and the communities along our southern border. They have a gorgeous website. Just makes you want to reach out and give a helping hand…which I did! It just takes a little money to let them know you’re on their side. Or, it could be a lot of money (hint, hint) to really make a difference. www.borderlandsplants.org
4. I delivered blank postcards to someone who had seen the 5-things-I-did project online and wanted to join the fun. I think he might let his two young sons write cards, so watch out for those. I bet they will be full of heart and spunk!
5. I posted on substack, bluesky and Facebook, urging others to join the -5-things-I-did movement. It’s fun to see the numbers growing of people who share their 5-things each week.

Aren’t you proud of what you started? I am always very careful to give you credit for the great idea of doing 5 good things each week. You’re kind of like a godfather to us!

OK, gotta run. See you next week, and have a nice day!

Lucy