This is an open letter to young adults. Those that have moved beyond high school. This will sound harsh but I say it with love. I also want you to know that this comes from a bleeding heart liberal. One who votes to extend support and assistance.

Get over it! Life is hard, it takes hard work, sacrifice and patience. Nothing is freely given. FIA, WIC, unemployment and other assistance programs are there to help get on your feet. Not something you should live on. I think we have made it to easy for you, to your own detriment. I know there are hard working young people out there. But I also know there are some of you caught up in stagnation. Waiting for something to be handed to you.

That isn't how it works. If you are young and able, then work. If you need to work at home depot during the day and McDonald's at night then do it. If you need to walk or take a bus to the local community college then do it. If you have kids, I understand you want to be there for your kids and you should be. But that isn't an excuse for not working. I know single mothers have it particular hard and I pray for you to have all the support you need. This is mostly to those young couples with kids. I know its tough to have kids, but if you are a two parent home then figure it out. Work alternate schedules or whatever works for your family. Again stop waiting for the world to hand you something.

We all did it. Was it easy, No!! Did we do it perfectly, absolutely not. We made mistakes, but we kept plowing forward. Making sacrifices, making choices and continuing to grow, learn and make things better.

We all have problems, issues and challenges. Money issues, relationship issues, health issues, etc.... We all continue to work, continue to move forward. My mom is 70 years old, she has fought and clawed her way, her whole life. She has diabetes and knee problems. She goes to work, she stays active, she tries to help those around her. I know others with different health problems, they still go to work or school or both everyday.

Maybe you are reading this and I think "she has no idea". You are right, I don't. I don't know the challenges some of you face. But I do know the challenges I have faced. I do see the challenges some of you face. I see some of you working hard, moving forward. But I also see some of you stagnating. Getting stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for something that may never come.

I know this sounds harsh, but it is reality. I hope you hear this with a sense of how much I care, wanting you to have a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.

I sound like a bitty old woman, maybe I am. I don't think so though. I see too many young adults who are stuck and it is frustrating!! Please accept this in the way intended, with love and hope to motivate.

Prayers, love and grace to all!!

Which side are you on? Are you democrat or republican?Black or white? What is your opinion on the Trayvon Martin story? ? Etc. Etc.....

We like our sides don't we. We like to make things cut and dry. Are you with me or against me. The media likes it too. They get ratings which turns into advertising dollars. They manipulate, they spin and we suck it up.

I know there are people out there like me. I know we feel like we are getting squeezed out by the loud voices on the sides. But we are here looking around in amazement.

I have opinions on what may have happened on that horrible night in Florida. I also know that my opinions are based on limited facts, innuendos and rumors. I was not there, I don't know any of those personally involved. So it is a very limited opinion. I do know that the situation is a tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon's family and friends. So sad and tragic a loss. My thoughts and prayers also go out to Zimmerman and his family. I hope for answers, justice and peace for all.

I am not a black or white kinda person. And I don't mean race, I mean on most issues there is some gray area. There is somewhere in the middle.

Don't get me wrong. I know there is racism, prejudice and bigotry in this country. I have seen it, heard it and felt it. There are many who dislike others for the color of their skin. There are many who hate for a myriad of reasons.
That is unfortunately a part of the human condition. There will always be those who hate. And we should, continually work towards a world without hate.

So I do understand the shock and outcry over this case. I understand the desire for justice and answers. I don't understand the threats of violence. I don't understand the unwillingness of people to have a rational conversation. To recognize the limited facts in the case. I am not justifying anyone's actions from the police to Zimmerman's. I'm saying I wasn't there. I have lots of questions and I may never know the answers.

I am wondering if we have lost all sense of rational conversation. Of recognizing if someone doesn't agree with you 100% that doesn't make them your enemy. If someone is religious that doesn't make them weak or uneducated or hateful. If someone thinks or believes or acts different, then they are just that different.

You know what's interesting, is some of the most "liberal" people I know, can be very intolerable. I guess I just find it ironic, those that speak of tolerance and acceptance, find it hard to accept someone with different opinions. Some will read this and not recognize their own intolerances. We all have prejudices. We all pre judge. If we don't look inward and recognize that things will never change.

Let's work on having rational intelligent conversations. Even is someone says something you disagree with.

God Bless you all!

Hope everyone had a Blessed Easter.

I was having a conversation with my daughter the other day. She was asking how long we have lived in Ann Arbor. We were comparing how long I have lived in Ann Arbor versus Detroit.

In August I will be 46, I will also have lived in Ann Arbor for 23 years. Which is 23 years in both the D and A2. I feel blessed to have lived in 2 great cities in my life. Both have had impacts on who I am. Amanda stated that since the odds of me moving back to Detroit are non existent, that by next year I will have been in Ann Arbor longer. I told her who knows. Life has a way of throwing curve balls. Who knows what the future holds. I have no intention of moving now. I have no desire really to move back to Detroit.

This got me to thinking about the twists and turns of life. Playing the odds are tricky. Yes the odds are that I will live in Ann Arbor longer than the D. But the odds haven't always played out in my life. Given my childhood, I should be a single mom with a few kids. Or at the least on my 2nd or 3rd relationship, certainly not in a 27 year relationship.

Life is a journey. Most of times the visual to this is a walking path. I am more incline to think of a kayak ride. There are currents and things that move you along out of your control. Sometimes there is no current and the path is your choice. Sometimes the current is so strong, you have no choice. Sometimes you have more than forks in the road, more like multiple path choices that lead to more path choices.

As we choose one path multitudes of other open up. And we continue on always wondering what is around the corner. Sometimes we can see what's next. Sometimes we are blindsided by a curve or a blocked path. More choices, more decisions. We like to think we are always in control and most times we are. But sometimes the current takes. We are also at times distracted by those around us or events happening, that we don't even realize we are being moved along. There are those moments, at least for me, where I look around in amazement at where I am. Those moments of how in the heck did I get here?!

Will I ever move back to the city? I don't think so. But who knows.
If I end up moving somewhere completely different in August and live there another 23 years....... 69 years, 3 different places. That would be interesting.

But the odds are that I will be right here next August, talking about how I have lived in Ann Arbor longer than Detroit.

May your path be fun, interesting and driven by love. God Bless you all.