January 6, 2021 - Protest at US Capitol
So much for turning over a new leaf in 2021! I have to believe that the events at the Capitol last Wednesday were a necessary catharsis for our country. A line in the sand has been clearly drawn. Apologies and compensatory logic won’t cut it anymore. It is a fitting conclusion to the Trump presidency. It’s time to pick sides. . As much as we need to heal, we need to stop the flow of spurious and non factual information. We desperately need to teach our children not only civic responsibility, but also logic, critical thinking, and thinking outside of a belief system. One good thing about this wake up call is that I think more people will be getting more involved in our democracy, from ordinary citizens to leaders. There seems to be a widespread realization that we can’t take our country for granted if we want to keep our freedom.
David Stearns
1/12/2021
Dear friends and family - Christmas 2021
The photo this year is of Mother and Dad relaxing at the Cissel family home on 2nd Street in Atlantic Beach, on Easter 2003. There were many awesome Easter parties there. God bless all the Stearns, Cissels, and other families who had barrels of fun there. They were all events to remember.
Karen and I had a pretty good year, all things considered. Karen spends her time sewing, practicing arts and crafts, going to yoga, and spending time with her girlfriends. We did a little work on our unfinished garage loft and made plans to do some more. Visitors included Susie and Charles, Rosemary, Chris and Richard, niece Anna, and brother George (who came up to can tomatoes). Anna moved back to Black Mountain and was made a partner in the law firm where she worked before going to law school. We are very proud of her.
I led a couple of hikes for the Nantahala Hiking Club, and went out most Wednesdays with their trail maintainer group to work on the Appalachian Trail. I managed to lose 10# since last year and am aiming to lose 10 more this coming year.
I wrote and self published a book, Bucking the System, with my views on what it will take to make the world a better place. If you would like a copy, let me know.
These are trying times. There are people who want to see us fight with each other and be divided. Stand up for truth, love, and kindness, regardless of differing beliefs with others. Support leaders who care more about us than their own agendas. Pray and follow the Golden Rule.
Love from the mountains - David and Karen
2022
I finished my book, Bucking the System, in October 2021. After 2 revisions due to proofreading, additions, and suggestions from readers, I had the 3rd and final (so far) version printed, which I am happy and satisfied with. My goal is to raise awareness of the fuedal system we still live in, world wide, and that nothing will substantially or permanently change for the better until we have better leaders and better education.
We got a new dog, Zola, in March. She is a 2 year old pit bull mix, and very good natured. Peaches, our 2 year old coon hound mix, left us just before Thanksgiving last year, due to aggressive behavior. Karen's dog, Sadie is still with us, struggling with health issues. We pray for her and work with her to get her well. She is 8 years old and is a Mountain Feist.
David trimming branches
Christmas 2022
Holiday greetings to one and all!
Karen is active with her friends and family. She spent a lot of time this year with Sadie, our female Mountain Feist, who had a seizure a year ago. Sadie is getting lots of love and is getting better.
I was active with Wayfarers Unity Chapel and the Nantahala Hiking Club, leading hikes and helping maintain the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. I have a new Facebook account if you want to “friend” me.
Daughter Chris and husband Richard spent a week with us in November, helping us insulate and panel our garage loft. My friend, another Richard, wired the loft for lights and outlets. If you want to visit, we have rustic accommodations for you (no indoor plumbing).
We love our mountain valley and stay home as much as we can.
I finished and distributed two dozen copies of my book, Bucking the System. It is in the 3rd and final (I hope ) edition. I maintain that we still live in a feudal system and nothing will permanently change for the better until we change the system. I am up to almost 3000 sayings and phrases, past and present, that I am recording in a spread sheet, just for fun.
We inherited a two year old female Pit Bull mix in February. Her name is Zola (nicknamed Petey, from the Little Rascals). She is a good dog and the only dog I ever had with her own nickname.
My daughter Chris successfully instigated a surprise birthday party for me in Statesboro for my 75th on Halloween. I got to see some of my seven great grandchildren for the first time. There was a lot of celebrating and even a bonfire, thanks to my son in law, Richard.
The US is rapidly devolving into a two tier society: the haves and the have nots. We need better education for all, and leaders who care more about democracy and the country than their own agendas.
Love David and Karen
2023 Christmas Letter
Holiday Greetings to one and all, family and friends. “Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser!” (Alice in Wonderland). Where will it end? Where are we heading? Those of us who were born in the last century, see our world slipping away. We have to turn to our Faith, whatever that is, and respect Life, respect others. and respect our selves. The Golden Rule is more important than ever. Be Kind, says the Dalai Lama. Being a decent human being never goes out of style.
There were no seismic shifts in our life this year. Karen is fine (her own words) and continues to take art classes, work on personal growth, and spend time with friends. My daughter Chris moved in with my sister Rosemary, in Waynesville, NC. Chris is pursuing her teaching (Spanish) career, and Rosemary is helping her move ahead. I cleaned ditches, blew leaves, chopped firewood, went to church on Sundays, and hiked with the Nantahala Hiking Club on Wednesdays helping to maintain the Appalachian Trail. I sold my motorcycle (got tired of dropping it in gravel) and am in the market for a VW rail buggy (4 wheels are better than 2). I did some mechanic work on my 1994 Geo Tracker (225K miles) and it is still humming along. Zola (Petie) is approaching 4 and is settling down some. She is a great dog, very affectionate and smart. Karen’s dog Sadie keeps us on our toes. Sadie continues to recover from a seizure several years ago. I am pursuing Reiki therapy, and learning how to do hands on healing. It is very rewarding to be able to help others. I spoke at our church on Sunday several times and am leading a skit with some of the church kids on Sunday, Christmas Eve. Just for fun and mental exercise, I am collecting sayings and phrases that would not be taught in an English as a second language class. I am up to nearly 7,000, and getting more every day (from reminders and old tv shows and movies).
“God bless us all, each and every one!”
Love - David and Karen Stearns
2024 - We are all happy the election is over, although some of us are more worried about the future than others. We all want a good economy, a clean environment, and an end to the senseless wars on the planet. Better education and better leaders would help.
We weathered the storms that devastated Asheville and points north of us. We lost power for a few days, but were otherwise unscathed. Our 3500 watt generator saw us through, although it wouldn’t run our 220 volt well pump. I have ordered a larger generator from Duro Max that is scheduled to arrive December 9th.
Indian Summer was marvelous up here in the mountains. We haven’t had a freeze yet. I have restricted my activities away from home and have accomplished projects that have been neglected for years. I sold my two remaining motorcycles as they both needed work. Instead I bought a new ATV go kart from Tractor Supply to run around our neighborhood in. (We live in the middle of the Nantahala Forest).
I am over 10,000 in my spread sheet of sayings, phrases, and idioms, and it’s not slowing down much. Old tv provides some and some come to mind from conversation. I plan to have a 4th printing of my book, Bucking the System, in 2025. I will get a bar code and an isbn number for this edition so I can have wider distribution.
Karen has been doing art work, mostly drawings, and is quite good at it. She sews a little on her beloved Bernina, takes classes online, and is in a meditation group. She supports me in whatever I get into (double entendre).
On a happy note, recreational pot was legalized in nearby Cherokee in October. God bless the Indians. A side benefit is that it irritates to no end the conservative politicians and bible thumpers. Karen, Sadie, Zola, and I are all pretty healthy and happy. We are trying to take care of ourselves and enjoy life.
Here it is, your Moment of Zen: We are now a two tier society economically, the haves and the have nots. Some of the middle class has moved up, but many of us are struggling. Our economy is now geared to the investors, not the workers or customers. Look at the different ads on tv and see which ones are aimed at you.
Blessings and Light - David and Karen
*Holiday Greetings and Merry Christmas to One and All! * 2025
In the midst of the turmoil we find our world in, let’s look for some things to be grateful for. I try to see what the USA is going through as a great big civics lesson. There are more people now than ever, interested in conserving and improving our democracy. Sometimes you have to swallow some bad tasting medicine to get better.
Karen, David, Sadie and Zola (aka Petie) are all doing pretty good. Sadie has slowed down but still has a good quality of life and gets lots of love (and tolerance ) from us all. We stay home a lot and tend to chores (firewood, gravel, yard and house work, projects), and personal pursuits. Karen takes art classes online most days and practices her various art disciplines. I write, rabble rouse, play my guitar, and exercise. We settle in after 5pm on the couch together, watch tv and even converse a little. We are putting together a NOK Box to make life a little easier for those who have the joy of settling our affairs.
I got to visit with old friends Maxine and Jim in November. We had many stories to share of our wild and misspent youth in Florida in the 1960s and beyond. They are wonderful people and after many years apart, we picked up where we left off. I returned a trivet to Maxine that was handmade by Maxine’s Grandpa, and given to my Mother and Dad in the 1960s.
My daughter Chris has returned to Waynesville, NC to seek her fortune, after spending some time with her extended family in Statesboro, GA. Sister Rosemary is having hip replacement surgery in December. Her friend, Tina, is coming up from Jacksonville, FL, for a week to help RM rehab.
My book, Bucking the System, is in its 3rd printing, and is available on Amazon, or from me directly ($10). If you order from Amazon, I will rebate you the shipping cost.
Here it is, your moment of Zen: Many of us have different opinions about what the biggest concerns in our country and the world are. I propose that a handful of the ultra wealthy are our #1 problem (they want to have complete control over all governments and economies), and that nothing meaningful and lasting will occur until we have decent leaders and good education for all. There is a man (men and women) behind the curtain.
Blessings and Light - David and Karen Stearns -Christmas 2025
