I see you Lynn Ruth Miller

Dear Lynn Ruth,

I am writing this one to you rather than use the comment option-- so every one can see that I see and acknowledge you. And I am not a fellow grandmother, though if I were, I'd like dick jokes, too. People talk a lot these days about how polarized our society has become since the last two elections. I don't think we are...we self-segregate-- soccer moms talk to soccer moms and senior citizens put themselves away with other senior citizens so they can all talk about the nth rerun of Lawrence Welk. We put up gated communities to push out people, who are not like us. We don't make eye contact with homeless people because we are afraid they are going to ask for cash. Serving a free meal to homeless youths one day, one of the kids said to me that by-passers' lack of eye-contact made her feel all the more that she no longer mattered, a permanent persona non grata in America. I now make eye contact with every homeless person I see...

I love to teach at Berkeley because I don't have to talk to fellow moms at the grocery store but I can see and hear what makes college kids tick these days. I love crossing the boundaries to meet people who may be the total opposite of what I am. When I went to your house, Lynn Ruth-- that was the first time I was at your house, there was a party going on and I said to my husband: look around the room and tell me what you see...what we saw was all different age groups and people from all walks of life. I attributed this to your talent, Lynn Ruth, for you know how to cross the boundaries of segregation and know how to connect with a 4-year-old and an 84-year-old. You make them laugh and you make them cry and even though there are petty souls out there who discriminate in order to self-segregate, there are also plenty of people like me who do not see your age but who see your young spirit, your humor and your beautiful humanity. Don't obsess with the comments of the little people in this world but live your life like you have been living it and you will be seen. I see you all the way, and that's what matters.
Your friend, Inez