January 5,2026- Hana doesn’t like the smell of peppermint oil. When I had it on my breath, after lunch, she put her hand up to her nose. That is one of the messages the little lady sends to those who are paying attention. It’s not all squalling and fussing. Her eye contact is minimal, yet, but she does follow the sound of noise in the room and has started looking up at me when I speak to her. Smiles are mostly for her father, but I have received a few.Cooing shows a general state of contentment.

We have reached a level of communication in our house that I only wish government would follow. If the reasonable wishes of a two-week old infant can be noted and respected by adults in the house, then how is it that the reasonable thoughts and opinions of a citizenry are seen as little more than an impediment to the important affairs of a nation-or even a community (Austin, TX comes to mind, as does Surprise, AZ, in terms of executive hubris towards the public). There are many other examples, from top to bottom.

Hana will speak her mind, with increasing eloquence, as the years progress. She may be off base at times, and one of us will correct her, but she will never be told that she is out of order and needs to be silent. Communication goes two ways, which is something that so often gets forgotten, by those at the top of their respective heap.