Dear Reader,

Having been born and raised (a regional colloquialism) in Georgia,

I'm very familiar with Jimmy Carter's wonderful, life-changing deeds. 

 

He had the foresight to worry about global warming, and to plead with the American public about the need to reduce our reliance on oil. But his chance at a second term was hindered by pork barrel politics as usual, an oil embargo that caused higher gas prices (from 70 to 81 to 96 cents!) and the Iran Hostage Crisis, which saw the failed rescue attempt with loss of two lives. Though the hostages' releases were finally negotiated, a Congressional investigation revealed that a back-room deal unnecessarily extended it until the day Ronald Reagan took office.

 

 

Over the past few days, I listened to NPR journalist Terry Gross' interviews with Carter on her show, Fresh Air. Through these links, you can too:

 

Terry Gross + Jimmy Carter Part 1

Terry Gross + Jimmy Carter Part 2

You may also enjoy this New Yorker article by Lawrence Wright. 

 

Both interviews give glimpses of the true measure of a man who did his best to embody the learnings of his spiritual faith. He will be sorely missed.

 

 

Being a Californian, I've traveled throughout the state. From its majestic mountains to its stunning, sand-to-rugged-cliff coastline, from its mist-kissed redwoods to its breeze-salted palms, its beauty always awes me.

 

But like all things in life, there is a dark side to life in sunny California. 

 

Over the past few years, NorCal, where I live (San Jose and north to the Oregon border) has had its fair share of devastating fires. Sadly, this week SoCal (below San Luis Obispo and to the Mexican border), saw the tragic effect of the always fierce Santa Ana winds in this era of global warming. The growth of the Los Angeles  megalopolis—1,855,000 in 1950 to 3,363000 in 2025— has only exacerbated what one fire, let alone four, can do to the region.

 

Author advocate, bookstore owner, and author (check out her hilarious mom-com novel, Blank) Zibby Owens owns a home in Pacific Palisades, the fire's ground zero. By the grace of God, her home survived. In this essay from her website, she reminisces about the joy finding her home, the memories created in her neighborhood, and her sadness of what has now been lost because of this tragedy.

 

 

 

Should you wish to donate,

 

 Josie

In Josie's Bookshop: $2.49/$14.99/$24.99

“The whole family was home for Thanksgiving. It was good to see they are all alive and well. I was glad Dad left them something to fix the problem.”
 

GoodRead's 
Amy Howell
 

 

 Josie