Political Quotes

“in a few days, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that is filled with meaning and memories and, if we are lucky, sumptuous meals shared with family and friends. Thanksgiving began as America's national harvest festival, a day to give thanks for our rich and fertile land and the great bounty of food it produces. On this long Thanksgiving weekend, I plan to spend a few hours reading the latest book from one of my favorite friends whose works capture in loving detail life on her family's Wisconsin dairy farm, but even more, the rock-solid values that sustained her family and her life. The book is called ``The Round Barn: Biography of an American Farm.'' As one reviewer wrote, reading it ``is like sitting on the porch of an early 20th century dairy farm and watching an era in American history pass right before your eyes.'' The Round Barn books--there are three of them now--are the creations of Jackie Dougan Jackson, a novelist, poet, professor, mentor to generations of writers, and one of the best-loved residents in my hometown of Springfield, IL. She lives in a big, old home in Springfield which, legend has it, was once visited by another master storyteller, Abraham Lincoln. Loretta and I are lucky to count Jackie as a dear friend of many years. She is a kind, creative soul who never fails to reach out to help others. At the age of 89, she is still filled with energy, empathy and curiosity about nearly everything.…”