By SUSAM DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings
I muse joyfully today on kindness, on cups of tea shared, on strong women, on voices heard, on speaking the truth.
It’s been a week. But I glory in the light, the kindness, the remarkable intelligence of so many. I highlight two women in particular, Heather Cox Richardson and Teresa Hanflin. Both women capture the essence of a day, corral the news and political system with intelligence, humor, facts. I delight in them both, rely on them both, celebrate them both.
Heather Cox Richardson is a graduate of Exeter and Harvard and a writer who currently teaches at Boston College. She writes a detailed summary of events with detail, with a strong opinion supplemented by facts. Her writing is that of someone who studies, who reads and is a beautiful contrast to the noise of so much reported, of so much shouted on line, over airways, on TV. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
Teresa Hanafin writes Fast Forward for the Boston Globe. She’s funny, the kind of woman you want to be seated next to anywhere, anytime. She tells it like it is and never apologizes for strong, solid opinions. She makes me laugh out loud and cringe simultaneously. I rely on her wisdom, her reporting, her insight into the madness of these times. https://www.bostonglobe.com/newsletters/fast-forward/
In a time when it seems the loudest get heard, I muse joyfully on the powerful, inestimable power of truth, of kindness, of wit, of education. I muse joyfully, as an educator myself, I may contribute to a young mind or two, I may encourage literacy, critical thinking, profound curiosity.
I muse joyfully on those who write and teach alongside me. I muse joyfully you know who you are and recognize that you are respected and needed more than you can imagine.
And I muse joyfully we will share a cup of tea, celebrate intelligence, wit, writing and education – and, of course, laugh out loud and cringe simultaneously.
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.
The opinions expressed are those of the writer. InDepthNH.org takes no position on politics, but welcomes diverse opinions. email nancywestnews@gmail.com